Guidelines for the determination of tube forming limits based on tensile, bulge and elliptical tests

Lander Galdos, Eneko Sáenz De Argandoña, Carlos García

Mechanical and Manufacturing Department, Mondragon University, Spain.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7494/cmms.2011.1.0328

Abstract:

Tube hydroforming is a well-known technology able to manufacture complicated geometrical parts with high mechanical properties. Furthermore, the developments of new and more accurate hydraulic devices, especially high-pressure intensifiers, and the improvements achieved in control theory through computing science have made this process to become suitable for mass production in the last few years. In this context, and due to the high dependency of tube hydroforming in the process parameters, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has become a widely applied technique to optimise the process. Unfortunately, the accuracy of FEA results depends very much, among others, on the tube material characterisation and this one must be precisely modelled. However, very few studies have been carried out in order to develop specific tests able to obtain the tube forming limit diagrams. The present paper describes an innovative method able to obtain the specific forming limit curves of materials further deformed by tube hydroforming processes. This method is based on non-conventional tensile tests, bulge-tests and elliptical bursting tests. The paper also shows the approach followed for designing the tests (based on the use of numerical modelling tools), the experimental set-up as well as the results of the tests.

Cite as:

Galdos, L., Argandoña, E., & García, C. (2011). Guidelines for the determination of tube forming limits based on tensile, bulge and elliptical tests. Computer Methods in Materials Science, 11(1), 161 – 166. https://doi.org/10.7494/cmms.2011.1.0328

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