Finite Element Analysis and Experimental Study on the Effect of Extrusion Ratio during Hot Extrusion Process of Aluminium Matrix Composites

The finite element (FE) analysis on the effect of extrusion process parameter namely, extrusion ratio at different billet temperatures on the plastic strain and strain rate of aluminium matrix composite during hot extrusion process has been dealt. The dynamic explicit FE code in ANSYS 15.0 workbench was used for simulation. The FE analysis was carried out on the SiC reinforced aluminium matrix composites for three extrusion ratios 4:1, 8:1 and 15:1, for the billet temperatures in the range 350 °C - 450 °C in steps of 50 °C. The plastic strain and strain rate were found to increase with increase in the extrusion ratio. A minimum strain and strain rate was found to occur at the billet temperature of 450 °C. The silicon carbide particles reinforced aluminium matrix composites were then extruded at the optimised temperature of 450 °C for various extrusion ratios as mentioned above. The effect of extrusion ratio on the microstructure and surface quality of extruded rod was studied.