Process metallurgy design of aluminum alloy sheet rolling by using two-scale finite element analysis and optimization algorithm

Recently, the asymmetric rolling (ASR) process was applied to the aluminum alloy sheet generation to control the micro-crystal structure in order to improve the formability and the strength. Until now, many experimental and numerical studies of ASR process have been carried out, but these schemes have not enough capability to predict the texture evolution at the micro-scale and the sheet formability at the macro-scale. In this study, we develop a process metallurgy design code to analyze and optimize the sheet rolling process. At first, our dynamic-explicit crystallographic homogenized elasto/viscoplastic finite element (two-scale FE) code was applied to analyze ASR sheet deformation and optimized ASR process to generate a high formability sheet metal by employing the response surface method. A texture evolution of ASR sheet metal under an optimum process condition was compared with the experimental results, and the availability of our design code was confirmed. Next, an initial texture for the symmetrical warm rolling was optimized to generate a better formability sheet metal. Consequently, our two-scale FE code combined with the optimization algorithm was verified as a comprehensive tool in the process metallurgy design to predict plastic induced texture evolutions and optimize a rolling process and an initial texture for a high formability sheet generation.     

Development of application technique of aluminum sandwich sheets for automotive hood

Objective of this study was to develop basic techniques in order to apply aluminum sandwich sheets for an automotive hood part. The aluminum sandwich sheet is the material fabricated by adhering two aluminum skins to one polypropylene core. When it has the same bending stiffness as a steel sheet, it is 65% lighter than the steel sheet and 30% lighter than an aluminum alloy sheet. Therefore, it is notified exclusively as good substitutive materials for a steel body to improve the fuel efficiency. Through aluminum sandwich sheet, however, it has relatively lower formability than that of the steel sheet for automotive application. In this study, we developed application techniques of the aluminum sandwich sheet for automotive hood. The various formability evaluations were carried out in order to secure the fundamental data for the measurement of sheet metal forming and the establishment of optimum application conditions of the sandwich sheet. From these results, it was found that the sandwich sheet could reduce the weight and maintain the flexural rigidity simultaneously comparing to the steel sheet.     

铝合金磁脉冲辅助板材冲压技术研究进展

铝合金板材室温下的成形性较差,但在高速变形条件下成形极限大幅提高。为了促进铝合金板材在汽车制造、航空航天及3G领域的应用,需要开发先进的板材成形技术。磁脉冲辅助板材冲压成形技术（EMAS）通过在普通冲压模具中嵌入线圈,能有效控制和改善变形板料的应变分布。针对这些问题,重点介绍和讨论了EMAS技术的国内外研发现状,阐明了开展该技术研究的必要性和重要意义。     

耦合温度和应变率的铝合金板成形极限预测方法

为了提高铝合金板成形能力,一些先进成形工艺已经被开发。温成形是实现铝合金高成形能力和高成形精度的一种有效方法。温度和成形速度是影响铝合金板温成形工艺的重要参数,对其成形性能影响十分显著。提出一种综合考虑温度和应变率影响的铝合金板成形极限预测方法。采用响应面法建立铝合金板应变硬化指数n、应变率敏感度指数m与成形温度、应变率条件之间的力学性能函数关系;基于M-K理论,并结合Logan-Hosford屈服函数,推导出耦合温度和应变率的铝合金板成形极限图计算模型。模型检验表明力学性能响应面方程具有较高精度。成形极限的计算结果与已有的试验值对比表明,二者吻合较好,这证实耦合温度和应变率的铝板成形极限预测方法是正确和可靠的。     

On the role of constitutive model in the forming limit of FCC sheet metal with cube orientations

The effect on forming-limit diagrams (FLD) of an initial cube texture and its evolution was studied using the well-known M-K approach in conjunction with a viscoplastic crystal plasticity model (VPSC). We focused on how the strength of the cube texture affects localized necking. In particular, we addressed the results of Wu et al. [Effect of cube texture on sheet-metal formability. Materials Science and Engineering A 2004;364:182-7] who found that a spread about cube exhibits unexpectedly high limit strains. The FLD and yield loci were determined for several spreads about {1 0 0}〈0 0 1〉 with uniform or Gaussian distributions. A smooth transition in predicted limit strains from the ideal cube, through textures with increasing cut-off angles, to a random texture was calculated using the MK-VPSC approach. Results indicate that the constitutive model selected has a critical importance for predicting the behavior of materials that exhibit a qualitative change in the crystallographic texture, and hence, evolve anisotropically during mechanical deformation.     

Numerical simulation of sheet metal stamping by using ODF data

An elasto-polycrystalline plastic finite element method is developed to simulate the deformation behavior and corresponding crystallographic texture evolution of sheet metals in stamping processes. A rate-independent crystal plasticity model and a degenerated shell element are introduced into the explicit finite element formulation. A successive integration method by which the shear rates on the slip systems can be calculated without prior determination of active/non-active state of the slip systems, as generally done in rate-dependent models, is employed to calculate the plastic strain rate of a crystal during the deformation. Representative crystal orientations are extracted from the orientation distribution function (ODF) data and assigned to the integration points of elements according to the distributional characteristic of crystal orientations. The macroscopic stress of a polycrystalline aggregate is evaluated by a volume-averaged response of the representative crystals. Two drawing processes are simulated, one with a cylindrical punch and the other with a square punch. Good agreements between the calculated results and experimental ones are obtained.     

Forming limit predictions with the perturbation method using stress potential functions of polycrystal viscoplasticity

Plastic potentials of polycrystalline materials are calculated for plane stress states using viscoplastic crystallographic slips and the Taylor approach. The derivation process of these potentials and their development during large plastic deformation of textured aluminium sheets are discussed. These potentials are then used to predict the forming limits of sheet metals. The approach employed was that of the perturbation technique developed by Dudzinski and Molinari [Int. J. Solids Struct. 27, 601 (1991)]. The perturbation method is analytic if Hill-type yield potentials are used. Therefore, to facilitate the use of the polycrystal plastic potentials in the perturbation approach, the polycrystal stress potentials were approximated locally at the loading point by Hill-ellipsoids. In this way even the development of anisotropy during stretching could be taken into account. The effect of initial texture as well as the changes in the anisotropy during deformation are discussed. It has been found that the development of anisotropy influences strongly the predicted limit strains in the vicinity of equibiaxial stretching.     

Corrosion and wear of 6082 aluminum alloy

The corrosion and corrosive wear resistance of 6082 wrought aluminum alloy against 410 stainless steel counterface in 0.01 M NaCl solution with different concentrations of sodium molybdate dihydrate solution (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 M), were studied. The experimental results indicated that the increase in sodium molybdate dihydrate acted as an inhibitor in the 0.01 M NaCl solution resulting in a significant decrease in the corrosion current, meaning improved corrosion resistance. During the corrosive wear under free corrosion conditions of 6082 aluminum alloy specimens against 410 stainless steel counterface, the addition of sodium molybdate dihydrate inhibitor, leads to a decrease in friction coefficient of the examined pair of materials. The dominant wear mechanisms of the aluminum alloy were mainly observed to be plastic deformation and abrasion. These wear mechanisms coexisted with pitting corrosion phenomena, on the surface of this alloy.     

铝合金汽车板性能及其应用的研究进展

系统总结并提出了铝合金汽车板材的七种性能要求,以使铝合金汽车板材的研发具有明确目标;介绍了铝合金汽车板的典型化学成分、力学性能及成形性,论述了影响其性能的主要因素,并重点讨论了预处理工艺的影响及其在保证铝合金汽车板性能上的重要性;还介绍了铝合金汽车板的重点研发内容及其应用情况,最后指出降低铝合金汽车板的成本和价格、做好应用研究是今后扩大铝合金汽车板应用的重要工作。     

利用激光局部硬化效应提高2B06铝合金板材拉深成形性研究

针对2B06铝合金复杂零件成形困难问题,提出了利用激光热处理局部硬化提高板材成形性的思路。在通过激光热处理试验研究了铝合金板的激光硬化效应的基础上,采用数值模拟计算了铝合金板激光热处理过程中激光光斑路径和其周边热影响区域的峰值温度场,并通过实际测温验证了其准确性。提出并构建了耦合性能梯度的差性坯料模型,对激光局部硬化的杯形件拉深成形性进行了模拟和试验研究。结果表明,激光扫描方式可以形成稳定的梯度温度场并对周边非加热区影响较小,且可以通过多道次扫描方式设计不同宽度范围的大梯度差性板材坯料。力学性能试验表明激光热处理可以有效地提高铝合金的局部加工硬化能力,这种效应可以有效抑制杯形件拉深时圆角大变形区的减薄,从而提升了板材的拉深性能。在上述基础上,将激光局部热处理用于2B06铝合金航空复杂口框零件的成形,通过设计激光处理路径和参数,获得合理的局部硬化区域,可有效地避免在加强筋处出现过度减薄导致的破裂,大大提高复杂零件的成形性。     

Texture evolution of FCC sheet metals during deep drawing process

The stability of ideal orientations and texture evolution was investigated for FCC sheet metals during deep drawing. Lattice rotation fields around ideal orientations were numerically predicted using a rate-sensitive polycrystal model with full constraint boundary conditions. In order to evaluate the strain path during deep drawing of an AA1050, simulations using a finite element analysis were carried out. The stability of orientations and texture formation was examined at sequential paths such as flange deformation, transition and wall deformation. Depending on the initial location in the blank, the deviation from the plane strain state in the flange deformation path decreased the orientation density around P and shifted the final stable end orientation from P to Y_f near . The texture evolution in AA1050 sheet metals during deep drawing was experimentally investigated. The change of orientation density around ideal orientations in the RD and TD samples was in good agreement with the rate-sensitive polycrystal model.     

不同硬化模型对铝合金板冲压成形模拟结果的影响

研究不同塑性变形硬化模型对汽车5182-O铝合金板材冲压成形模拟结果的影响。采用材料单向拉伸试验得到应力应变关系曲线,基于Hollomom、Krupskowsky与Power方程对曲线进行拟合,建立材料室温下塑性变形硬化模型,对厚度为1.5 mm和0.85 mm的5182板材进行冲压试验和有限元模拟分析,对比分析冲压试验与模拟结果。试验与模拟结果显示,当板料厚度为1.5 mm时,板料冲压试验的成形力最大为42.95 kN,板料拉深深度为30.58 mm,基于Power方程计算得到的最大成形力为41.5kN与试验结果比较接近,Hollomom方程计算得到的拉深深度为30.546 mm,板材成形厚度分布与试验结果比较接近;当板料厚度为0.85 mm时,板料冲压试验的成形力最大为34.47kN,板料拉深深度为33.792 mm,基于Power方程计算得到的最大成形力为34.27 kN与试验结果比较接近,Hollomom方程计算得到的拉深深度为33.636 mm,板材成形厚度分布与试验结果比较接近。基于三种硬化模型铝合金冲压成形过程的计算模拟分析结果,并通过与试验对比得到不同硬化模型对铝合金板材冲压成形计算模拟的影响,进一步为汽车铝合金覆盖件在成形工艺的研究分析提供理论指导。     

板材冲压成形的晶体塑性有限元模拟

将率相关晶体塑性本构理论引入Mindlin曲壳单元模型与动力显式有限元法,采用切线系数法计算剪切应变率,根据晶体取向正态分布规律在单元积分点处分配晶体取向,按各晶体取向体积分数的加权平均计算多晶体应力,开发晶体塑性动力显式有限元程序,实现板材冲压成形过程模拟和晶体取向演化预示.以主要初始织构为铜织构和S织构的轧制铝板为对象,对方盒件冲压成形过程及织构演化进行数值模拟,计算结果与试验结果呈现出较好的一致性.通过晶体弹塑性有限元法不仅可以预示板材宏观成形构形变化,而且能够预测板材织构的演化情况.模拟结果显示在方盒件冲压成形过程中,铜织构和S织构为不稳定取向,变形后逐渐转到其他取向.     

Modeling of anisotropic plastic behavior of ferritic stainless steel sheet

Modeling of anisotropic plastic behavior of ferritic stainless steel sheet (Type 409) was investigated using the three yield functions of Hill [A theory of the yielding and plastic flow of anisotropic metals. Proceedings of Royal Society of London, Series A 1948;193:281–97.], Barlat and Lian [Plastic behavior and stretchability of sheet metals. Part I: A yield function for orthotropic sheets under plane stress conditions. International Journal of Plasticity 1989;5:51–66] and Barlat et al. [Plane stress yield function for aluminum alloy sheet. Part I: Theory. International Journal of Plasticity 2003;19:1297–319.] (referred to as Yld2000-2d) criteria. Mechanical behaviors were characterized based on uniaxial tension, balanced biaxial bulge, and disk compression tests. Directionalities of yield stresses and r values were predicted from the three criteria and compared with experimental results. In order to verify the modeling accuracy of the three functions under complex loading conditions, cylindrical cup drawing and limiting dome height tests were carried out numerically and experimentally. It has been demonstrated that the result from Yld2000-2d criterion exhibits good agreement with experimental data. The effects of anisotropic hardening on earing and necking were also investigated based on the different levels of plastic work.     

比例/非比例加载路径下5754O汽车用铝合金板各向异性变形行为的精确解析

随着越来越高的汽车轻量化需求,铝合金板在现代汽车工业中的应用越来越广。在不同加载路径下,包括比例和非比例加载,5754O铝合金板在塑性成形过程中具有复杂的各向异性规律。试验表明5754O铝合金板的各向异性规律随变形量的增加会发生改变,因此在常参数屈服准则理论框架下,基于传统的单一曲线假设难以对5754O铝合金板在整个塑性变形过程中的各向异性行为进行精确描述。鉴于上述问题,并同时考虑到大变形过程中材料变形的稳定性,对Yld2000-2d屈服准则进行改进。基于改进的Yld2000-2d屈服准则和单一曲线假设推导不同方向的单向拉伸应力应变曲线,并与试验结果进行了对比。结果表明,与原始的Yld2000-2d屈服准则不同,基于改进的Yld2000-2d屈服准则,传统的单一曲线假设仍然适用于5754O铝合金板各向异性问题。给出不同强化方式在比例加载路径下的统一性和非比例加载路径下的分散性证明。基于改进的Yld2000-2d屈服准则和等向强化和混合两种强化方式,推导非比例加载路径下板料的应力应变曲线。基于试验结果,验证了推导的理论曲线的精度。实现了5754O铝合金板在比例和非比例加载路径下变形行为的精确描述,为其工业应用提供了重要的理论支撑。     

Modes of axial collapse of unconstrained capped frusta

Efforts are made to classify the modes of deformation of unconstrained capped end frusta when crushed axially between two parallel plates. Tens of aluminum spun capped end frusta of different semi-apex angles (15–60°) and thicknesses (1–3 mm) are crushed at quasi-static loading conditions using a universal instron machine. The resulting modes of deformation can be classified into: (1) outward inversion, (2) limited inward inversion followed by outward inversion, (3) full inward inversion followed by outward inversion, (4) limited extensible crumpling followed by outward inversion, and (5) full extensible crumpling. Samples of frusta made of low carbon steel sheets and nylon plastic were tested statically and gave similar results. An explicit version of ABAQUS 5.8 finite element (FE) program is used to model the crushing modes. Good agreement is obtained between the FE predictions and the experimental work.     

Formability evaluation of friction stir welded 6111-T4 sheet with respect to joining material direction

In order to evaluate the formability of friction stir welded (FSW) automotive TWB (tailor-welded blank) sheets with respect to base material direction, the aluminum alloy 6111-T4 sheet was joined with three different types of combination: RD||RD, TD||RD, TD||TD (Here, RD and TD mean the rolling direction and transverse direction, respectively). Formability performance was experimentally and numerically studied in three applications including the simple tension tests, hemisphere dome stretching and cylindrical cup drawing tests. For numerical simulations, the non-quadratic orthogonal anisotropic yield function, Yld2004-18p and the isotropic hardening law were implemented into the material constitutive model. As for the failure criterion, the forming limit diagram (FLD) was utilized to determine the failure strain.     

Drawability assessment of BCC steel sheet by using elastic/crystalline viscoplastic finite element analyses

Elastic/crystalline viscoplastic finite element (FE) analyses were carried out to asses the drawability of three kinds of BCC steel sheets, such as mild steel, dual-phase steel and high-strength steel, in the cylindrical cup deep drawing processes. In this study, the crystal orientations were obtained by X-ray diffraction and orientation distribution function (ODF) analyses. The measured ODF results have revealed clearly different textures of sheets, featured by orientation fibers, skeleton lines and selected orientations in Euler angle coordinate space, which can be related to the plastic anisotropy. An orientation probability assignment method, which can be categorized as an inhomogenized material modeling, was used in this FE modeling. The orientations were determined from the measured ODF and assigned to FE integration points one by one. Numbers of integration points, which represent crystallites and can rotate individually, are employed to represent textures of the sheet metals for taking account of the initial and evolutional plastic anisotropy without introducing Taylor or Sachs homogenization assumption. The FE analyses showed how the fiber textures affect the strain localization and earing in the deep drawing operation. It was confirmed by comparison with experimental results that this FE code could predict the extreme strain localization and earing with good accuracy and assess the sheet drawability.     

Texture control and grain refinement of AA1050 Al alloy sheets by asymmetric rolling

Asymmetric rolling, in which the circumferential velocities of the upper and lower rolls are different, can give rise to intense plastic shear strains and in turn shear deformation textures through the sheet thickness. The ideal shear deformation texture of fcc metals can be approximated by the {0 0 1}1 1 0 plus 1 1 1ND orientations, among which the latter improves the Lankford values or the deep drawability. The intense shear strains can result in the grain refinement and hence improve mechanical properties. In this paper, a study has been made of effects of asymmetric rolling variables such as reductions per pass, changes in shear direction each pass, reductions in the last pass, roll rotation rate ratios, changes in shear direction in the last pass, and different frictions on the upper and lower surfaces of AA1050 Al alloy sheets on the evolution of their deformation and annealing textures and grain refinement.     

A theoretical prediction of the strain path of anisotropic sheet metal deformed under uniaxial and biaxial stress state

A model based on a combination of the micro- and macroscopic theories of plasticity has been built to predict the strain path of a textured sheet metal for a given imposed stress state. By applying the flow rule to a crystallographically based anisotropic continuum yield locus, the deformation strain tensor is determined. For each small increment of deformation, the change in the crystal rotation of each grain is followed and the strain tensor recalculated. The successive changes in the strain state with strain increment give the strain path followed by a material element. Analyses are made for different crystallographic orientations and typical sheet textures of commercially pure aluminium and a Cu-20% Zn alloy deformed in either the uniaxial or equibiaxial stress states. It is found that the simulated strain paths often deviate from those based on isotropic assumptions. The significance of the finding to the study of the formability of sheet metal is discussed.