A Study on Life Estimation of a Forging Die

Die life is generally estimated taking failure life and wear amount into consideration. In this study, the forging die life was investigated considering both of these two factors. The fatigue life prediction for the die was performed using the stress-life method, i.e. Goodman`s and Gerber`s equations. The Archard`s wear model was used in the wear life simulation. These die life prediction techniques were applied to the die used in the forging process of the socket ball joint of a transportation system. A rigid-plastic finite element analysis for the die forging process of the socket ball was carried out and also the elastic stress analysis for the die set was performed in order to get basic data for the die fatigue life prediction. The wear volume of the die was measured using a 3-dimensional measurement apparatus. The simulation results were relatively in good agreement with the experimental measurements.