Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Recently, the use of tubular hydroforming technology has seen increased usage and increased consideration for wide range of tubular automotive applications. In manufacturing hydroformed parts, bending and pre-forming operations are often required prior to the hydroforming process. Higher bending qua...

Recently, the use of tubular hydroforming technology has seen increased usage and increased consideration for wide range of tubular automotive applications. In manufacturing hydroformed parts, bending and pre-forming operations are often required prior to the hydroforming process. Higher bending quality of bent tubes is crucial for the successful hydroforming operation because most of plastic strains and wall thinning at the extrados of bend area occur in the bending operation. Springback is also observed due to elastic recovery of tube material after bending. Proper correction of springback is required not only to well place the bent tube into a hydroforming die cavity but also to avoid pinching when the upper die is brought down to closing position. Therefore, prediction of springback at early development stage is one of the key factors to produce high quality hydroformed parts. In this study, a variety of bending experiments has been carried out to investigate springback amount under change in bending angle and material boosting. Throughout the experimental approach, springback characteristics of bent tubes are quantified according to the change in various bending parameters, and a mathematical model to predict correction amount of springback to a given bend angle is found.