ABSTRACT
The magnitude of extrusion load and its response to varying lengths of aluminium (Al) billet material during a backward cold cup extrusion process was carried out using MATLAB simulation. The matrix laboratory (MATLAB) software as a robust mathematical software tool was effective in simulation of the extrusion process in conjunction with the upper bound element technique (UBET). Results obtained showed that as the billet height decreased during plastic deformation the extrusion load also decreased. The maximum extrusion load was observed at the highest billet height, while the minimum extrusion load was observed at billet height of 2mm beyond which the extrusion load tends to increase again possibly due to work hardening of the metal billet resulting in velocity discontinuity at which point the extrusion operation proceed to stop. The use of MATLAB simulation for the extrusion process is cost effective, time saving and useful in predicting extrusion variables when compared to carrying out the physical extrusion experiment. This study is significant in the selection of proper extrusion machine capacity as well as executing an efficient extrusion process.
