Finite element investigations upon the influence of pocket die designs on metal flow in aluminium extrusion. Part 2 Effect of pocket geometry configurations on metal flow

The effects of geometry and offset of pocket on flow velocity were modelled and the metal flow behaviour was investigated. FEM results show that different geometry configurations have different effects on metal flow velocity and conical pockets have the largest effect on increasing the flow velocity. The metal flow patterns and velocity profile around pockets have been illustrated. Although step(s) reduce the volume of dead metal zone and the pocket size of conventional square pockets, this does not change the metal flow velocity significantly. Offsets in the pocket have an effect on velocity, causing bending of the extrudates. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.