Plastic deformation characteristics of cross-equal channel angular pressing

For the first time, the plastic deformation characteristics of cross-equal channel pressing (cross-ECAP), a modified equal channel angular pressing, using a cross-shaped channel instead of a conventional l-shaped channel, was analyzed by using finite element analysis. The deformation in the cross-ECAP is more complicated and the strain induced is much more severe than that in the conventional ECAP. However, the plastic strain is localized in the central linear region of the workpiece and very small strain is developed in the edge regions, which is in good agreement with experimental results in the literature showing nonuniformity in microstructure and hardness distribution. The load requirements of cross-ECAP are much higher in comparison to conventional ECAP and T-ECAP processes.