The rolling process of rings is a commonly used method for producing annular forgings. There are two primary types of this process: radial-axial rolling and radial rolling. This article presents the research results regarding the latter, in which obtaining a product with the assumed dimensions constitutes a major problem. In industrial practice, the process parameters are based on the experience of technologists and/or by trial and error. This is why the authors considered it justified to undertake the research aimed at determining the influence of the main process parameters, that is, preform temperature and tool speed, on the shape and dimensions of the cross-section, which determine the internal and external diameters of the rolled ring. The research was based on numerical simulations and experimental studies. The results obtained proved that the higher the feed speed of the main roll, the greater the change in the cross-sectional height during rolling, and the smaller the cross-sectional deformation (the so-called fishtail). Nevertheless, a higher preform temperature reduces the final height of the ring and reduces cross-section deformation. On the basis of the obtained test results, guidelines for the process design were postulated, considering the influence of temperature and speed parameters on the final dimensions of the forging and the dimensions of the preform.

The paper contains the theoretical and experimental analysis of the impact of the drawing angle on the drawing process and the properties of low carbon steel wires. A multi-stage drawing wire rod with a diameter of 5.5 mm on a wire with a diameter of 1.0 mm has been carried out in two stages. The first one consisted of preliminary drawing wire rod for the wire with a diameter of 2.2 mm which was next subjected to the drawing process at a speed of 25 m/sec at the final wire with a diameter of 1.0 mm. The wires were drawn in conventional dies with drawing angle α = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 degrees. For the wires drawn in respective variants, the investigation of the mechanical properties was performed and the amount of lubricant on the surface of steel wires was determined. Numerical analysis of the process of drawing in the Drawing 2D complemented the experimental studies. It has been shown that when drawing at high speeds, properly chosen the value of the angle of the working part of the die can improve the lubrication conditions and mechanical properties of steel wires.

Magnesium alloys are highly strain rate sensitive and exhibit good workability in a narrow forging temperature range. Consequently, parts made of these materials are usually forged with low-speed hydraulic presses, using specially designed tool heating systems in order to ensure near-isothermal conditions. This study investigates whether popular magnesium alloys such as Mg-Al-Zn can be forged in forging machines equipped with high-speed forming tools. Experimental upset forging tests on AZ31B, AZ61A and AZ80A specimens were conducted, using a screw press with a ram speed of 0.5 m/s and a die forging hammer with a ram speed at stroke of about 5 m/s. Test specimens were preheated to 350 °C, 410 °C and 450 °C. After the upset forging process, they were air- or water-cooled and then examined for their workability, hardness and grain size. To validate the results, a forging process for a producing handle was designed and modelled by the finite element method. Distributions of strain, temperature and fracture criterion were analysed, and energy and force parameters of the forging process were calculated. After that, experimental tests were performed on AZ31B and AZ61A specimens in order to determine mechanical properties of forged parts and examine their micro- and macrostructure. Results have demonstrated that AZ80A is not suitable for forging with either the screw press or the die forging hammer, that AZ61A can be press- and hammer-forged but to a limited extent, and that AZ31B can be subjected to forging in both forging machines analysed in the study.

In the work, the results of the research concerned with the TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) steel wire drawing process in experimental and theoretical ways are shown. The wire drawing process tests on the experimental way were conducted in both laboratories as well as industrial conditions, with the use of two drawing speeds (1.6 and 6 m/s) and two drawing schemes (low and high single reductions). The mechanical properties of wires drawn with high drawing speed equal to 6 m/s showed higher values of mechanical properties for wires drawn with low single reductions than for wires drawn with high single reductions. Such a phenomenon contradicts the theory of drawing wires from steel with a ferritic-pearlitic structure and must be related to TRIP structure and the presence of retained austenite in it, which is transformed into martensite during the deformation process. In order to explain this phenomenon, the theoretical wire drawing process analysis was conducted with the use of the Drawing 2D program based on the finite element method. On the base of the simulation, a large increase in temperature was found on the surface for wires drawn with high drawing speed and low single reductions, which can cause the blocking of transformation retained austenite into martensite and thus a decrease in R_m. To confirm this thesis, further studies will include tests of the amount of retained austenite in wires obtained during experimental tests.

The paper reports the results of research aimed at creating theoretical grounds for a new method of mandrelless small-radius tube bending (1.5D_r<R_g<2.5D_r, where D_r- tube diameter, R_g- bending radius). As the result of applying such a methodology it is possible to carry out the bending process (with an angle of up to 180°) and obtain an ovalization and wall thinning in the bending area, which are much smaller than those in currently manufactured products. The currently used bending methods and bending equipment are able to achieve a minimum bending radius not less than three times the tube outer diameter. The research hypothesis has assumed the existence of tube bending methods that are more efficient that those known so far. Than methods do not rely on circular bending contours, but instead they may use other shaping die contours which has not been explored yet. Circular benders used in practice fail in that they do not yield the expected results on small radii and do not control the material flow (do not ensure its correct behaviour) in the bending zone. The literature review has shown that there are currently no theoretical studies, numerical analyses and experimental verifications related to the processes of mandrelless tube bending on small radii, i.e. for 1.5D≤R≥2.5D, where: (R - bending radius, D - tube outer diameter) up to an angle of 180°. Due to the lack of studies on this subject, in their approach to the numerical modelling of the problem, the authors of the paper were guided by their own experience in this field and made every effort to make the numerical model reflect the actual process as accurately as possible. They were only aided by the general knowledge accumulated in the literature on numerical modelling. To sum up, the purpose of the publication is to demonstrate that the change in the die recess towards a shape resembling an ellipse results in a change in the characteristics of metal flow (movement) along the tube perimeter and in a change in the stress characteristics and, as a consequence, a change in the tube cross-section in the bending zone. The research discussed in this paper seeks to establish the correct flow of material in the tube cross-section in the bending zone by determining the most efficient bender recess shape and friction surface forming, which will eliminate the excessive ovalization and upper wall thinning. The expected effect of implementing this bending technology will be increasing the flow capacity in energy systems, which will directly translate into a reduction of atmospheric CO emissions due to the lower energy consumption. In addition, the paper has presented the concepts of tools intended for the experimental verification of tube bending process.