Effect of Friction on Residual Stress Distribution Induced by Split Sleeve Cold Expansion Process

Abstract

Residual Stress distribution and parametric influence of friction are studied for the split sleeve cold expanded holes in Al 2024 T351 alloy, by developing a three-dimensional finite element model of the process. Fastener holes in the alloy are necessary for the manufacturing process, but they create a potential area for stress concentration, which eventually leads to fatigue under cyclic loading. Beneficial compressive residual stress distribution as a result of the split sleeve cold expansion process provides retardation against crack initiation and propagation at the critical zones near hole edges. In this parametric study, the influence of friction between contact surfaces of the split sleeve and mandrel is numerically investigated. Hole reaming process after split sleeve cold expansion is often not discussed. Without this post-processing procedure, split sleeve cold expansion is incomplete in practice, and its purpose of providing better fatigue performance is invalidated. This study presents results and an overview of the significance of friction with the consideration of the postprocessing of split sleeve cold expansion. The numerical results show that with increasing friction coefficient, compressive residual stress reduces significantly at the mandrel entry side, which makes the hole edge more vulnerable to fatigue. The different aspects of finite element modeling approaches are also discussed to present the accuracy of the prediction. Experimental residual stress observation or visual validation is expensive and time-consuming. So better numerical prediction with the transparency of the analysis design can provide critical information on the process.