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Effect of quenching process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a kind of seamless tubes of steel 28CrMnMoV was investigated. Then, an investigation on the influence of two different quenching processes on the ductile-brittle transition behavior of this steel was undertaken. The ductile-brittle transition temperatures of the steel by two different quenching processes were also determined. The results show that a good combination of mechanical properties can be obtained through austenitizing experimental steel at 800 °C or 890 °C followed by tempering at 630 °C. Ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of 28CrMnMoV steel austenitized at 800 °C followed by tempering at 640 °C is about −73 °C, which is much lower than the value −37 °C when the steel was austenitized at 890°C and then tempered at 650 °C. This indicates that subcritical quenching process could decrease largely the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of 28CrMnMoV steel.

Hot compression tests of modified 2.25Cr–1Mo steel were conducted on a Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator at the temperatures ranging from 1173 to 1473 K with the strain rate of 0.01–10 s −1 and the height reduction of 60%. Based on the experimental results, an artificial neural network (ANN) model and constitutive equations were developed to predict the hot deformation behavior of modified 2.25Cr–1Mo steel. A comparative evaluation of the constitutive equations and the ANN model was carried out. It was found that the relative errors based on the ANN model varied from −4.63% to 2.23% and those were in the range from −20.48% to 12.11% by using the constitutive equations, and the average root mean square errors were 0.62 MPa and 7.66 MPa corresponding to the ANN model and constitutive equations, respectively. These results showed that the well-trained ANN model was more accurate and efficient in predicting the hot deformation behavior of modified 2.25Cr–1Mo steel than the constitutive equations.

Hot compression tests of T24 ferritic steel were carried out using Gleeble-3500 thermo mechanical simulator in the temperature range of 1323–1473 K with the strain rate of 0.01–10 s−1 and the height reduction of 60%. The flow behavior of T24 ferritic steel was characterized based on analysis of the true stress–strain curves. Constitutive equations incorporating the effects of temperature, strain rate and strain have been developed to model the hot deformation behavior of T24 ferritic steel. Material constants α, n, ln A and activation energy Q in the constitutive equations were calculated as a function of strain. The flow stress values of T24 ferritic steel predicted by the proposed constitutive equations show a good agreement with experimental results, which indicated that the developed constitutive equations could give an accurate and precise prediction for the flow stress of T24 ferritic steel.

The true stress–strain data from isothermal hot compression tests, in a wide range of temperatures (1173–1473 K) and strain rates (0.01–10 s −1 ), were employed to study the deformation behavior and develop constitutive equation of V150 grade oil casing steel based on an Arrhenius-type equation. The flow stress increases with the decrease of deformation temperature and the increase of strain rate, which can be represented by Zener–Hollomon parameter in an exponential equation. The influence of strain was incorporated in the developed constitutive equation by considering the effect of strain on material constants. The flow stress predicted by the constitutive equation shows good agreement with the experimental value through the whole experimental temperature and strain rate range except a slight deviation for predicting the stress deformed at 1173 K under 0.01 s −1 , and the average relative error is 4.21%.

The continuous rolling and sizing processes for producing non-quenching and non-tempering 36Mn2V steel pipes used in oil well were studied by the thermomechanical simulation test in this paper. The results showed clearly that the final microstructure was influenced by deformation temperature and stain applied. When continuous rolling temperature was controlled at 1050°C and strain at about 0.5 or above, dynamic recrystallization was completed and fine austenitic grain was obtained. When sizing temperature was controlled at 850°C or below and strain at about 0.2 or above, fine acicular ferrite was obtained with properties satisfying the requirement of the high quality pipe. The results of the study provided reliable data for the controlled rolling and sizing processes for the production of the 36Mn2V steel pipes.

In continuous tube rolling process, wall thickness reduction per stand will be changed due to wall thickness fluctuation of pierced shell caused by piercing process, which results in changes in metal flow conditions and affects force parameters, deformation parameters, especially transverse wall thickness precision of rolled hollow tube. In this paper, with the aid of commercial FE code MSC.SuperForm, the high pressure boiler steel tube continuous rolling process of a typical hollow tube specification 133.0×4.0mm are simulated based on 133 main pass sequence of 89mm 6-stand semi-floating mandrel mill, and force parameters, equivalent plastic strain, transverse wall thickness precision, outline dimension and real roundness of rolled hollow tube are analyzed and compared on the condition of two different wall thicknesses of pierced shell. Analysis results indicate that force parameters increase with wall thickness of pierced shell, maximal rolling force, rolling moment and mandrel axial force increase 10% or so in the first three stands when rolling pierced shell of wall thickness 11.5mm compared to that of wall thickness 10.5mm. When rolling pierced shell of wall thickness 10.5mm, there exist front and back tensions among the third, the fourth and the fifth stands and outline dimension and real roundness of rolled hollow tube is slightly better. However, transverse wall thickness of rolled hollow tube at the bottom of groove is pulled thin obviously.

In continuous tube rolling process, it has an obvious influence on the stability of rolling process, tools wear and the quality of rolled hollow tube that configuration of roll rotational speed per stand. In this paper, various roll working diameters per stand are determined by velocity integral method (VIT) and FEM respectively, and two roll rotational speed schedules are obtained correspondingly based on 133 main pass sequence of 89mm 6-stand semi-floating mandrel mill. With the aid of commercial FE code MSC.SuperForm, the high pressure boiler steel tube continuous rolling process of a typical hollow tube specification 133.0×5.2mm are simulated, and force parameters, transverse wall thickness precision, outline dimension and real roundness of rolled hollow tube and clearance between the mandrel and rolled hollow tube are analyzed and compared on the condition of two different roll rotational speed schedules, which provides scientific basis for configuring reasonable roll rotational speed per stand in pass design and optimization. Analysis results indicate that roll working diameter obtained per stand is smaller and roll rotational speed configured is higher correspondingly using FEM compared to VIT. Using FEM, there exist front and back tensions between stands and maximal rolling force, rolling moment and mandrel axial force decrease 10% or so in continuous tube rolling process, and outline dimension and real roundness of rolled hollow tube is better. However, transverse wall thickness of rolled hollow tube at the bottom of groove is pulled thin slightly, and clearance between the mandrel and rolled hollow tube is less than normal.

With the aid of commercial finite element analysis software MSC. Superform, the high pressure boiler steel tube continuous rolling process with 6-stand semi-floating mandrel is simulated, and the distribution characteristic of transverse wall thickness is analyzed. It indicates that it presents “M” shape that the distribution of transverse wall thickness of hollow tube along one-fourth groove periphery. Transverse wall thicknesses have low values at the top, the bottom and sidewall 45 degree or so of groove, and they have high values at the sidewall 23 degree and 67 degree or so of groove. Then the improved measure is put forward on the basis of analyzing the causes responsible for transverse wall thickness. By the comparison of the simulation results, they have been improved obviously that transverse wall thickness precision and real roundness of rolled hollow tube using the improved measure.