Abstract: In order to improve the product quality and work efficiency and reduce the cost, rational preform design must be carried out for the preformed blank. On the basis of the minimum energy principle and the least resistance principle, and by utilizing the analogy between the flow law of blank in the plastic process and the isopotential line distribution in the electrostatic field, a new method for preform design, i.e. equi-potential field method, is proposed and adopted for the perform design of p/m superalloy discs. Six groups of preformed shapes are selected by using ANSYS software simulation. At the same time, the isothermal forging of the P/M superalloy disc is simulated by using software MSC/Superform with the obtained die shapes in order to obtain the equivalent strain distribution in the final shapes and the deformation degree at pre-forming and finish forging. Through comparing the equivalent strain, the deformation degree and other field variables, a rational preforging is recommended.

Key words: Equi-potential field, Finite element simulation, P/M superalloy, Preforming desal