Application of response surface methodology for predicting bend force during air bending process in interstitial free steel sheet

In this work, bend force has been modeled using response surface methodology for air bending operation of interstitial free steel sheet. The process parameters considered in this investigation are punch travel (d), strain hardening exponent (n), punch radius (r), punch velocity (v), and width of the sheet (w). The experimental plan was based on the central composite design. The model results are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results. In addition, an analysis for the effect of the individual input bending parameters on the response has been carried out and presented in this study. This study shows that the punch travel is the dominant factor determining the bend force followed by punch velocity and punch radius. The interaction effects of punch travel and punch radius are considerably significant.