The present article reports selected results of a preliminary study of the process of skew rolling of bimetallic rods. The experiments were conducted using a numerically controlled three-roller skew rolling mill. During the tests, bimetallic rods were rolled from billets whose cores and outer sleeves (bushings) were made of different types of steel. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can be successfully used in the production of bimetallic rods. However, proper fastening of the two materials depends on the geometrical parameters of the billets, and the quality of bimetallic rods depends on the heating method used. When the rods are heated without protective atmospheres, the surface layer of the core gets decarburized and the surfaces of the materials being joined together are oxidized, which hinders the welding process and adversely affects the physical and chemical properties of such products. The results of numerical modeling indicate that the material near the surface tends to flow, which may have a negative impact on the welding process. In addition, the distribution of stress in the tool-workpiece contact zone may make welding of the materials difficult. The results reported in this paper are preliminary and constitute a prelude to a more detailed analysis of bimetallic rod rolling.
Keywords: FEM; bimetallic rods; skew rolling; welding.