Title: Finite element simulation on deep-drawing process of magnesium alloy sheet at elevated temperatures

Authors: Shi-Hong Zhang, Kun Zhang, Chuan-Fu Yu, Yi Xu, Ke Yang, Zhong-Tang Wang

Addresses: Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang 110168, China

Abstract: The thermal deep-drawing process of extruded magnesium alloy (AZ31B) sheet was simulated by DYNAFORM FE simulation code. Deep-drawing experiments were conducted at a temperature of 300°C for the blank. The variation in blank thickness was analysed. Process defects such as wrinkling and localised thinning were predicted to optimise the corresponding technical parameters in order to produce increased formability. To improve the accuracy of numerical simulation, the blank mesh in finite element model was modified. The simulation results showed that the thinning rate near punch shoulder part of the blank reached the maximum value, so the strength of this zone was the weakest in that part of the whole workpiece. The deformed workpieces had apparent anisotropic distortion behaviour in the flange, resulting from different material characteristics along different directions of the extruded sheet. All the results derived from the numerical simulations showed good agreement with the corresponding experimental results.

Keywords: finite element method; FEM; thermal deep drawing; wrinkling; localised thinning; anisotropy; magnesium alloy; simulation; blank thickness; thinning rate; metal extrusion; metal forming.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2005.007226

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2005 Vol.39 No.1/2, pp.154 - 162

Published online: 24 Jun 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article