Limit Strains Comparison during Tube and Sheet Hydroforming and Sheet Stamping Processes by Numerical Simulation

Hydroforming is a manufacturing process that uses a fluid medium to form a component by using high internal pressure. Tube and sheet hydroforming has gained increasing interest in the automotive and aerospace industries because of its many advantages such as part consolidation, good quality of the formed parts etc. The main advantage is that the uniform pressure can be transferred to every where at the same time. Forming limit is the limit of the component up to that extent it can be formed safely. While analyzing hydroforming process, it is often assumed that the limit strains are identical as that of stamped sheet metal of equivalent material properties. It is not clear if such an assumption is valid. In this paper the forming limit strains during hydroforming is predicted. A series of tube bulge tests for tube hydroforming and limiting dome height test for sheet hydroforming and sheet stamping processes are simulated by a commercial finite element solver to predict the limit strains. Numerical simulation of forming limit strains in tube hydroforming with different internal pressure and different simulation set up with or without axial feeding, while in sheet hydroforming and sheet stamping, by changing the specimen geometry are considered to develop wide range of strain paths in the present work. The effects of process conditions on the forming limit strains are detailed. The comparison of limits strains during hydroforming and stamping processes is presented. Prediction of limits strains is based on a novel thickness based necking criterion.     

Forming limit diagram prediction of AA5052/polyethylene/AA5052 sandwich sheets

Metal–plastic sandwich sheet has received increasing attention in aeronautical, automotive, marine and civil engineering industries due to its lower density, higher specific flexural stiffness, better dent resistance, better sound and vibration damping characteristics. In the present study, an AA5052/polyethylene/AA5052 sandwich sheet is developed and its formabilities are investigated. A numerical simulation method based on the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) damage model is used for simulating the forming process of sandwich sheet, in which the interface conditions between skin sheet and core materials are considered by using the cohesive zone model (CZM). The rigid punch dome tests and the Nakazima forming tests are carried out to build the forming limit diagrams (FLDs) of sandwich sheet. A strain history method is applied to determine the limited strain. Comparisons between predictions and experimental results validate the used numerical simulation method. Finally, the influences of polyethylene’s thickness on the formabilities of sandwich sheet are analyzed. Research results show that: AA5052/polyethylene/AA5052 sandwich sheet has a better formability than monolithic AA5052 sheet and the formability of AA5052/polyethylene/AA5052 sandwich sheet increases with increasing the thickness of polyethylene core layer.     

Evaluation of bending limit curves of aluminium alloy AA6014-T4 and dual phase steel DP600 at ambient temperature

Bending/hemming operations are extensively used in automotive industries for assembling the car body panels. Besides the process mechanics, bending operation differs from biaxial sheet metal forming operations in failure mechanism also. Hence, the limit strains that material can sustain are different for both the operations. Thus, the conventional FLC proposed by Keeler and Goodwin fails to predict formability in bending/hemming operations. This necessitates the development of bending limit curves. In this work, bending limit curves are determined experimentally for AA6014-T4 and DP600. Effect of punch radius, nature and level of pre-strain on the bending limits is also studied. Thus, BLC can be used as a post-processing criterion in finite element simulations to assess formability during bending/hemming operations.     

Reduction of springback using simultaneous stretch-bending processes

Springback due to the elastic material behaviour can lead to shape errors that cause geometrical and dimensional inaccuracies in sheet metal forming processes, especially in bending operations. In order to reduce springback, the technique of integrating stretching with bending in sheet metal forming processes has been investigated. The object of this paper is to explain how to reduce the effect of the elastic component in the material behaviour using simultaneous stretching and bending so that a method is established for applying plastic forming during the main process, without changing the tool design. This study focuses on three main points: the stretching method, the stretching direction and the stretching length. In regard to swing- and v-bending processes, the springback factor is used as the standard evaluation to investigate these effects using Finite Element simulation. The springback factors are compared for four processes: Bending process without stretching (WS), pre-stretching and bending process (PB), pre-stretching plus simultaneous stretching and bending (PSB) and simultaneous stretching and bending (SB). The simulation results are then verified through experimentation. Based on the validated results, simultaneous stretching can then be subsequently applied to the existing stretch-forming process, which consists of pre-stretching and bending. Using this process, springback was successfully reduced which confirms the efficiency of SB process.     

Effect of Prestrain on Formability and Forming Limit Strains During Tube Hydroforming

The tube hydroforming process is a relatively complex manufacturing process; the performance of this process depends on various factors and requires proper combination of part design, material selection and boundary conditions. In manufacturing of automotive parts, such as engine cradles, frames rails, sub-frames, cross members, and other parts from circular tubes, pre-bending and per-forming operations are often required prior to the subsequent tubular hydroforming process to fit the tubular blank in the complex die shape. Due to these pre-- hydroforming operations, some of the strains are already developed before going to the actual hydroforming process. Such developed strains before hydroforming process in the part is called as prestrain. In this paper the study of effect of prestrain on formability and forming limit strains during tube hydroforming is done by simulation by taking the material prestrain value. The forming limit strains of pre-strained tube during hydroforming are predicted. A series of tube bulge tests for tube hydroforming are simulated by a commercial finite element solver to predict the limit strains. Numerical simulation of forming limit strains in tube hydroforming with different internal pressure and different simulation set up with or without axial feeding are considered to develop wide range of strain paths in the present work. The effects of process conditions on the forming limit strains are detailed. In this paper the forming limit strains during tube hydroforming are simulated for prestrain and compared with zero prestrain. Prediction of limits strains is based on a novel thickness based necking criterion.     

A Methodology for the Design of Effective Cooling System in Injection Moulding

In this work, the forming behaviour of a commercial sheet of AZ31B magnesium alloy at elevated temperatures is investigated and reported. The experimental activity is performed in two phases. The first phase consists in free bulging test and the second one in analysing the ability of the sheet in filling a closed die. Different pressure and temperature levels are applied. In free bulging tests, the specimen dome height is used as characterizing parameter; in the same test, the strain rate sensitivity index is calculated using an analytical approach. Thus, appropriate forming parameters, such as temperature and pressure, are individuated and used for subsequent forming tests. In the second phase, forming tests in closed die with a prismatic shape cavity are performed. The influence of relevant process parameters concerning forming results in terms of cavity filling, fillet radii on the final specimen profile are analysed. Closed die forming tests put in evidence how the examined commercial magnesium sheet can successfully be formed in complicated geometries if process parameters are adequately chosen.     

Prediction of non-uniform thinning in superplastically formed spherical domes

Abstract

Superplastic forming is an attractive manufacturing process, which allows the production of complex sheet metal components. The gas pressure bulging of metal sheets has become an important forming method. As the bulging process progresses, significant thinning in the sheet material becomes obvious. A prior knowledge about non-uniform thinning in the product after forming helps the designer in the selection of initial blank thickness. This paper suggests a simple procedure to obtain the variation in thickness of a gas pressure formed spherical dome at any instant of time during the bulging process. This simple procedure is validated by comparing predicted and measured thicknesses of a formed titanium hemispherical dome.     

Modelling studies of sheet metal formability of friction stir processed Mg AZ31B alloy under stretch forming

Magnesium alloys have poor formability at room temperature. The formability can be improved through hot forming at the cost of deterioration in strength and other mechanical properties. Improvements in texture and grain refinement are the alternate ways for formability improvement. The economically viable process for such applications is alloying or grain refinement technologies like equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), friction stir processing (FSP), and accumulative roll bonding (ARB), etc. Friction stir processing is an emerging solid state microstructure modification technique that can produce homogeneous microstructure with fine-grains in a single pass. The desirable characteristics for sheet formability are the maximum limiting dome height under plane and biaxial strain deformation conditions and the major fracture strain limits through forming limit diagrams (FLDs). Equiaxed homogeneous microstructure with fine grains through FSP results in the enhancement of formability of the material. The objective of the present work is to establish the methodology for viable sheet metal forming practices by altering the process conditions. This needs a clear understanding of the friction stir processed Mg alloy under different strain conditions to get optimized process parameters.     

汽车覆盖件用 5 B003 A 板拉伸实验及成形性的有限元分析

目的研究汽车车身用5B003A板的成形性能。方法在进行单轴拉伸试验的基础上,利用软件eta/DYNAFORM模拟了板成形极限曲线、破裂点应变路径、圆筒拉深过程,并进行了相应变形参数的优化。结果 5B003A板单向拉伸和有限元模拟均出现"交叉颈缩"现象,并且在与轧制呈45°角方向上的冲压性能优于0°和90°方向;5B003A板成形极限破裂点的应变路径漂移倾向较明显,双拉区中均呈ε2=const的应变状态;在与拱顶高实验相近变形条件下,优化得到最佳凸模圆角半径为20 mm时,与极限拉深系数0.43对应的无凸缘拉深的最大板坯尺寸为233 mm,相应最佳压料力为68 kN。结论 5B003A板在45°方向上有较好的冲压性能,且凸模圆角半径、板坯直径、压料力等工艺参数对其拉深成形性能影响较大。     

Formability prediction of high-strength steel sheet using experimental,analytical and theoretical analysis based on strain and stress forming limit curves and its application to automotive forming parts

In this work, the high-strength steel (HSS) sheet dual-phase 440 (DP440) were conducted to establish the forming limit curve (FLC) and analytical forming limit stress curve (FLSC) obtained from experimental forming limit curve. First, the Nakajima stretch forming examination was carried out to obtain forming limit curve of investigated sheet. Afterwards, the theoretical Marciniak–Kuczinsky (M–K) model was developed and calculated to evaluate localized necking limits both in strain and stress spaces combination with anisotropic yield criteria. Then, the analytical forming limit stress curves were plastically calculated by using experimental forming limit curve data combination with Swift hardening model and anisotropic yield criteria namely, Hill’48 and Yld2000-2d for representing anisotropic plastic deformation behavior on examined steel sheet. Finally, automotive stamping parts were performed in order to verify an applicability of all developed curves. It was observed that the analytical forming limit stress curves could more precisely predict the formability of automotive parts better than the forming limit curve based on strain. Particularly, the one based on Yld2000-2d predict better than the one based on Hill’48. Simultaneously, the experimental forming limit curve and analytical forming limit stress curve were also evaluated comparing with the theoretical calculated forming limit curve and forming limit stress curve using the Marciniak–Kuczinsky model. It should be noted again that the experimental forming limit curve and analytical forming limit stress curve are the best one. Therefore, the Yld2000-2d yield function better represented the anisotropic behavior of the high-strength steel sheet dual-phase 440 than Hill′ 48 yield function, and can suitable be used for the analysis prediction and design of bumper automotive parts under forming processes.     

基于Oyane韧性断裂准则的板料成形极限预测

本文基于Oyane韧性断裂准则,结合数值模拟方法,预测板料不同应变状态下的极限应变.准则中的材料参数通过单向拉伸和平面应变拉伸试验确定.在模拟胀形试验获得每一时间步应力、应变值的基础上,应用韧性断裂准则预测板料的成形极限.模拟结果表明用韧性断裂准则和数值模拟相结合的方法能成功获得板料的成形极限图.     

Forming limit evaluation of adhesive bonded sandwich steel sheets and numerical prediction

In the present work, the effect of hardener to resin ratio of epoxy adhesive on the formability of adhesive bonded steel sheets has been studied. Forming limit curve has been evaluated by hemispherical dome tests at predefined strain-paths. They are predicted by finite element simulations using strain mapping method. Cohesive zone model has been used to model the interface between skin and adhesive core. An improvement in the forming limit of sandwich steel sheets has been observed when the hardener to resin ratio is changed from 0.6 : 1 to 1 : 1 due to the improved plasticity of adhesive core layer at 1 : 1 ratio as compared to others. The forming limit of sandwich sheet made at 1 : 1 ratio is equivalent to base steel sheet of same thickness and grade. This shows the potential use of sandwich sheet in place of base steel sheet. The forming limit curve predictions agree well with experimental data for base sheet, while reasonable agreement is observed in case of sandwich sheet. Numerical prediction of interface delamination show insignificant influence of hardener to resin ratio on the onset of delamination and significant effect of strain-paths.     

基于六边界优化角度函数的多道次辊弯成形研究

目的 为了提高多道次辊弯成形中板材的成形质量、减少板材纵向弯曲缺陷的产生,提出一种基于新型六边界成形角度分配函数的多道次辊弯成形优化方法。方法 根据翼缘端部水平面投影五次曲线推导出最优辊弯成形角度公式,结合COPRA研究板件峰值纵向应变,以确定最佳成形角度分配区间;在相同条件下,利用Abaquse模拟与实验研究不同成形角度对帽形件辊弯成形纵向弯曲缺陷的影响,并分析辊弯成形工艺参数对板材辊弯过程中应力-应变的影响。结果 新型六边界成形角度分配函数的多道次辊弯成形方法可有效改善板材纵向弯曲缺陷;应力随着成形角度增量的增加而增大,等效塑性应变随成形角度和成形角度增量的增加而增加;实验与模拟结果基本吻合,验证了模拟结果的正确性。结论 优化成形角度分配函数的多道次辊弯成形方法可有效改善板材纵向弯曲缺陷,为提高辊弯工艺精度与板材质量提供一定的理论指导。     

An experimental and numerical study of the effects of length scale and strain state on the necking and fracture behaviours in sheet metals

Within sheet metal forming, crashworthiness analysis in the automotive industry and ship research on collision and grounding, modelling of the material failure/fracture, including the behaviour at large plastic deformations, is critical for accurate failure predictions. In order to validate existing failure models used in finite element (FE) simulations in terms of dependence on length scale and strain state, tests recorded with the optical strain measuring system ARAMIS have been conducted. With this system, the stress–strain behaviour of uniaxial tensile tests was examined locally, and from this information true stress–strain relations were calculated on different length scales across the necking region. Forming limit tests were conducted to study the multiaxial failure behaviour of the material in terms of necking and fracture. The failure criteria that were verified against the tests were chosen among those available in the FE software Abaqus and the Bressan–Williams–Hill (BWH) criterion proposed by Alsos et al, 2008. The experimental and numerical results from the tensile tests confirmed that Barba's relation is valid for handling stress–strain dependence on the length scale used for strain evaluation after necking. Also, the evolution of damage in the FE simulations was related to the processes ultimately leading to initiation and propagation of a macroscopic crack in the final phase of the tensile tests. Furthermore, numerical simulations using the BWH criterion for prediction of instability at the necking point showed good agreement with the forming limit test results. The effect of pre-straining in the forming limit tests and the FE simulations of them is discussed.     

Modelling the correlation between the geometrical features and the forming limit strains of perforated Al 8011 sheets using artificial neural network

In the recent years, sheet metals are produced with perforations in various shapes and patterns to improve the appearance of sheet and to save weight of components. As in conventional metal sheets, it is important to form the perforated sheet metals also within their safe strain regions to avoid the forming failures like necking, fracture and wrinkling. The Forming Limit Diagram (FLD) is an appropriate tool to determine the forming limit strains. The limiting strains of perforated sheet metals mainly depend on the geometry of the perforations and forming variables. This leads to large increase in number of test to be conducted with various geometry and forming variables for determining the forming limit strain for perforated sheets. Aiming to reduce the number of experiments needed, in this work, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been developed for forming limit diagram of perforated Al 8011 sheets based on experimental results and correlated with the geometrical features of the perforated sheets. This model is a feed forward back propagation neural network (BPNN) with a set of geometrical variables as its inputs and the safe true strains as its output. This ANN model can be applied for prediction of FLD of perforated sheet having any geometry.     

铝合金双曲率薄壁件电磁渐进辅助拉伸成形工艺方案设计与开发

目的 针对铝合金双曲率薄壁件传统拉伸成形工艺成形均匀性差的问题,提出一种采用电磁渐进辅助拉伸成形的高精度成形工艺。方法 设计电磁渐进辅助拉伸成形工艺方案,基于有限元仿真软件LS-DYNA R13.0,建立拉伸成形和电磁成形有限元模型。通过数值仿真研究线圈移动路径和放电电压组合对成形质量的影响以及薄壁件的整体贴模成形过程和等效塑性应变。结果 与单程放电相比,双程放电能够大幅度提高板材变形均匀性。与以中间值电压连续放电以及先大电压后小电压的放电电压组合相比,在先小电压后大电压的放电电压组合下,板材的成形质量更高。选择线圈双程顺序移动路径和7 kV-10 kV放电电压组合,通过10次拉伸和9层54次放电,得到了减薄率仅为3%的贴模性良好的双曲率薄壁件。变形量基本呈现随着放电层数的增加而不断降低的趋势。电磁放电仅扩展更大的塑性应变区域,不改变已贴模区板材的塑性应变值。结论 与拉伸成形相比,电磁渐进辅助拉伸成形工艺有效提高了板材的塑性变形程度并极大控制了回弹的发生。     

Path-independent forming limit models for multi-stage forming processes

Many practitioners of the metal forming community remain faithful to the idea that strain metrics are useful for formability assessment. However, it is only valid when deformation occurs along linear strain paths. Current simulations of multi-stage sheet forming processes for rigid-packaging and automotive components result in higher rejection rates due to the inaccuracy of forming and fracture limit models. In this work, we establish a new approach considering path-independency in forming limits based on the stress-based forming limit and polar EPS (Effective Plastic Strain) diagram which appear to be an effective solution for nonlinear effects. The related theory has been implemented into a user material model in commercial software.     

平面应变板料拉弯成形回弹理论分析

基于平面应变假设,采用服从Hill平方屈服准则和指数强化材料模型,建立了板料拉弯成形回弹量预测的理论模型。应用该模型计算了一个拉弯成形回弹实例,分析了单位宽度切向拉力、凸模圆角半径、摩擦因数及各向异性参数对板料回弹量的影响。分析结果表明,只有当中性层偏移距离超过板厚的四分之一时,增大切向拉力才能有效地控制板料回弹量,而且弯曲半径越大,增大切向拉力控制板料的回弹量越为有效,然而拉力不能无限制的增大,它的计算准则为板料最外层的等效应变应不大于极限应变。同时还表明,摩擦因数对板料回弹量的影响随切向拉力的增大变得更为显著,而各向异性参数对板料拉弯成形回弹量的影响也较为明显。与有限元数值模拟预测结果的对比表明,理论模型预测板料拉弯成形回弹量与有限元数值模拟结果很接近。     

Cryorolling and warm forming of AA6061 aluminum alloy sheets

Cryorolling is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process used to obtain ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy sheets along with higher strength and hardness than in conventional cold rolling, but it results in poor formability. An alternative method to improve both strength and formability of cryorolled sheets by warm forming after cryorolling without any post-heat treatment is proposed in this work. The formability of cryorolled AA6061 Al alloy sheets in the warm working temperature range is characterized in terms of forming limit diagrams (FLDs) and limiting dome height (LDH). Strain distributions and thinning in biaxially stretched samples are studied. Hardness of the formed samples is correlated with ultimate tensile strength to estimate post-forming mechanical properties. The limit strains and LDH have been found to be higher than in the case of the conventional processing route (cold rolled, annealed and formed at room temperature), making this hybrid route capable of producing sheet metal parts of aluminum alloys with high strength and formability. In order to combine the advantages of enhanced formability and better post-forming strength than the conventional cold rolled and annealed sheets, warm forming at 250°C has been found to be suitable for this alloy in the temperature range that has been studied.     

镁合金板材成形极限图(FLD)的实验研究

首次利用电蚀网格法,在BCS-30D板材成形性试验机上进行镁合金板材成形实验,利用先进的ASAME自动应变测量系统进行应变测量分析,测试镁合金板材的成形极限图(FLD).实验表明,室温下AZ31B镁合金冷轧态板材的力学性能和冲压性能不佳,难以完成成形极限图的测试,不具备成形加工能力;热轧态镁合金板材具有一定的塑性和成形性能,并测试了其成形极限图.成形极限曲线FLC的测试对制订镁合金板材的冲压成形工艺提供了理论依据.