Abstract: The variation principle is discussed and Rayleigh-Ritz method is proposed for construction of veloci ty field. A kinematically admissible velocity field based on polynomials was appIied to the determina tion of forging load and deformed buIge profile during upset forging of blocks. Simulation of upsetforging of rectangular blocks under various friction condjtions was performed. Comparison of the computed results with experiments and FEM shows good agreement. It is shown that this techniquecan be used for 3D simulation of metal forming process.