Modelling of equal channel angular pressing using a mesh-free method

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes are widely recognised as efficient techniques to produce bulk ultrafine-grained materials. As a complement to experiments, computational modelling is extensively used to understand the deformation mechanisms of grain refinement induced by large strain loading conditions. Although considerable research has been undertaken in the modelling of SPD processes, most of the studies have been accomplished using mesh-based methods, such as the finite element method (FEM). Mesh-based methods have inherent difficulties in modelling high-deformation processes because of the distortions in the mesh and the resultant inaccuracies and instabilities. As an alternative, a mesh-free method called smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is used. The effectiveness of this technique is highlighted for modelling of one of the most popular SPD techniques, equal channel angular pressing. A benchmark between SPH and FE calculation is performed. Furthermore, a number of simulations under different processing conditions are compared to existing literature data. A satisfactory agreement is found, which indicates that SPD processes can be approached by mesh-free methods, such as SPH.