Finite element prediction of creep-plastic ratchetting and low cycle creep-fatigue for a large SPF tool

Industrial experience shows that large superplastic forming (SPF) tools suffer from distortion due to thermal cycling, which apparently causes high temperature creep and plasticity. In addition to distortion, thermomechanical fatigue and fatigue-creep interaction can lead to cracking. The aim of this study is to predict the life-limiting thermomechanical behavior of a large SPF tool under realistic forming conditions using elastic-plastic-creep FE analyses. Nonlinear time-dependent, sequentially coupled FE analyses are performed using temperature-dependent monotonic and cyclic material data for a high-nickel, highchromium tool material, XN40F (40% Ni and 20% Cr). The effect of monotonic and cyclic material data is compared vis-à-vis the anisothermal, elastic-plastic-stress response of the SPF tool. An uncoupled cyclic plasticity-creep material model is employed. Progressive deformation (ratchetting) is predicted locally, transverse to the predominant direction of the creep-fatigue cycling, but at the same spatial location, due to creep and cyclic plasticity, during the so-called minor cycles, which correspond to comparatively smallamplitude temperature changes associated with opening of the press doors during part loading and unloading operations.