Determination of frictional behavior in sheet metals using orthogonal arrays

Frictional behavior of two sheet materials, aluminum-killed drawing-quality steel (AKDQ) and electro-galvanized (zinc) drawing-quality steel (AKDQ-EG), is examined under conditions of varying die material, die radius, crosshead speed, and lubricant. Tests are conducted using a special apparatus designed to measure front and back tension on uniform tensile strip specimens pulling over a circular die, simulating both frictionless and frictional conditions under certain sheet-metal-forming conditions. Use of a specially designed test apparatus with four contact angles for the same test condition minimizes the error associated with the use of single measurements for the determination of friction coefficient. Lubricant and die material play important roles among different factors examined in determining the coefficient of friction. Die radius has the most pronounced effect on the coefficient of friction. Implication of these results on actual sheet forming processes are discussed.