Solid-state processing of metal material is a very complex physical and chemical process, which is coupled by a series of variations including heat transfer, momentum transfer, mass transfer, and phase change. Applying three-dimensional finite element numerical method to the simulation of solid-state processing can perform analysis of metal material’s forging processes before production trial production, can obtain their relevant information such as material flow law, temperature field, and strain field under the minimum physical test conditions, thereby predicting metal material’s forming (...) defects and improving their forging quality. On the basis of summarizing and analyzing previous research works, this paper expounded the current status and significance of solid-state processing of metal materials, elaborated the development background, current status, and future challenges of 3D finite element numerical simulation, introduced the discrimination method and free surface solution method of numerical simulation calculation, conducted finite element model’s geometric assumptions, material selection, element division, model establishment, parameter selection, and initial and boundary condition determination, and simulated and analyzed rheological casting, remelting heating, thixoforming, and rotary piercing processes of metal materials. The results show that the 3D finite element numerical method can not only simulate various processes of flow field, temperature field, stress field, and microstructure in solid-state processing but also can provide a reliable basis for effectively obtaining a reasonable description and finding a more optimized design plan for metal material processing in a short time, which plays an important role in understanding and analyzing solid metal forming process, controlling and optimizing process parameters, guiding and mastering rheological casting, and secondary heating and rotary piercing of metal materials. (shrink)