Title: Numerical and experimental modelling of seamless stainless steel tubes hydroforming processes

Authors: J.P. Abrantes, M. Stipkovic Filho, G.F. Batalha, S.T. Button, D. Le Picart, P. Quaegebeur, G. Degallaix, S. Degallaix-Moreuil

Addresses: Laboratory of Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politecnica – University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 2231 CEP 05508.970 S. Paulo – Brazil. ' Laboratory of Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politecnica – University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 2231 CEP 05508.970 S. Paulo – Brazil. ' Laboratory of Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politecnica – University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 2231 CEP 05508.970 S. Paulo – Brazil. ' Laboratory of Metal Forming, Department of Materials Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6122, CEP 13083-970, Campinas – SP – Brazil. ' Laboratoire de Mecanique de Lille (UMR CNRS 8107), Equipe Mecanique et Materiaux, Ecole Centrale de Lille, Cite scientifique, BP 48, ZIP 59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Mecanique de Lille (UMR CNRS 8107), Equipe Mecanique et Materiaux, Ecole Centrale de Lille, Cite scientifique, BP 48, ZIP 59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Mecanique de Lille (UMR CNRS 8107), Equipe Mecanique et Materiaux, Ecole Centrale de Lille, Cite scientifique, BP 48, ZIP 59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Mecanique de Lille (UMR CNRS 8107), Equipe Mecanique et Materiaux, Ecole Centrale de Lille, Cite scientifique, BP 48, ZIP 59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France

Abstract: This work presents two tools sets for the Tube Hydroforming (THF) process of stainless steel seamless tubes. The first applies only pressure in the tube and the second applies pressure and axial load simultaneously. The internal pressure vs. the free radial expansion was monitored on the tool set 1 and modelled by the Finite Element Method (FEM) with 316L stainless steel sheet properties. The results show that the tube properties must be used instead of the sheet properties. This work is the first step of a larger investigation to design a procedure for tubular blanks and hydroforming parts and tooling.

Keywords: tube hydroforming; THF; stainless steel tubes; plasticity; necking; wrinkles; bursting; FEM; finite element method; seamless tubes; tubular blanks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2008.020506

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2008 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.206 - 217

Published online: 28 Sep 2008 *

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