CACULATION ON THERMAL PROCESS OF FLEXIBLE FORMING OFSHEET METAL USING PLASMA ARC

摘要

A mathematical model for heat transfer of flexible forming using a plasma arc (FFUPA) has been set up.Computational analysis has been performed for different thermal and physical parameters of the sheet metal, scanningspeed of plasma arc, cooling conditions. The influence of these factors on temperature field distribution was calculatedand analyzed. The research can provide reference for further stress analysis and forming controlling of flexible formingof sheet metal using plasma arc. The results indicate that thermal and physical parameters influence the distribution oftemperature field primarily and the sheet metal with small heat transfer coefficient is easy to be formed. With theappropriate surface temperature of sheet metal, higher scanning speed can perform better forming effect. Underspecified arc power, material and scanning speed, the shapable sheet metal has a thickness limit. With the coolingsystem, distribution of temperature field can be regulated and hence final shape can be controlled.