Some aspects of sheet forming simulation using explicit finite element techniques

Abstract

This paper discusses some aspects of the application of the explicit nonlinear finite element code DYNA3D to the numerical simulation of sheet forming processes. Although DYNA3D is intrinisically a code for transient dynamic response, it has been successfully applied to the quasistatic sheet forming problem by slow application of the loads. Although somewhat nontraditional, this approach has proven very robust in application to large-scale problems. This paper discusses the components of a successful sheet forming analysis, including constitutive modeling, contact definition, guidelines for load application, and some suggestions for solution evaluation. Further, this paper illustrates the use of DYNA3D to compute the Limiting Draw Ratio as a function of material anisotropy and compares the computed results for 3-D forming problems with experimental data.