Finite element analysis and experiment research on aluminum alloy ladder bowl with viscous pressure forming (VPF)

摘要

The process parameters of aluminum alloy ladder bowl with viscous pressure forming and solid metal punch forming were numerically simulated by commercial finite element software DEFORM. The influence of blank holder pressure (BHP) on the formability of sheet metal was investigated. It was found that lower BHP does benefit to the distribution of thickness both with VPF and with solid punch forming. The forming force needed in VPF is bigger than that of with solid punch forming at the same stroke. The distribution of thickness with VPF is more uniform than that of with solid punch forming. Compared with solid punch forming, the damage values of workpiece at the top convex corner are lower by VPF. It was also shown that fracture tendency could be reduced with VPF, so that means the formability is improved. At the same time, aluminum alloy ladder bowl was manufactured with VPF. The results show that the simulation results are in agreement with the experimental data very well.