Assessment of Optimal Tool Parameters used in Numerical Simulation for Hot Mandrel Bending of Pipe Elbows.

This paper is tackling the elbows bending process using hot mandrels. Through this process the pipe is pushed over a fix or mobile mandrel, which defines the expansion and the radius of curvature and is very important that mandrel deformation to be minimum. The paper presents the finite element model developed for the process described above, the optimization of tool parameters used to obtain and validate the simulation conditions in order to evaluate the effect of different materials on mandrels performances. The numerical simulation analyses were carried out by finite element analysis software NASTRAN and LS-DYNA which has a vast array of capabilities to simulate extreme deformation problems. Results obtained following the manufacturing process FEM simulation optimization are expected to reduce the mandrel production and exploitation costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]