Residual stress distribution in seamless tubes determined experimentally and by FEM

Abstract Cold drawing is widely applied in the industrial production of seamless tubes, employed for various mechanical applications. During pre-processing, deviations in tools and their adjustment lead to inhomogeneities in the geometry of the tubes and can cause a gradient in residual stress. A three dimensional finite element (3D- FEA)-model was developed to calculate the change in wall thickness, eccentricity, ovality and residual macro - stress (RS) state for cold drawn tubes. The FE model can also predict the tube quality and tolerances to be expected under different process conditions and define the most effective process parameters to influence the tolerances. Results of RS measurements and simulation are presented. For validating the model, neutron strain imaging measurements have been performed on SALSA at the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France) on a series of SF-copper tubes, produced under controlled laboratory conditions.