An inverse method for prediction of the required temperature distribution in the creep forming process

Abstract

To achieve the creep forming of glass sheet from designer specifications, the manufacturer has to know the required temperature distribution in the glass sheet accurately: a small variation of the temperature produces great change in the viscosity, and therefore, in the final shape of the sheet. In order to find this distribution, the authors propose an inverse identification procedure based on an optimization method and finite element analyses. The inverse problem is solved using a modified Levenberg—Marquardt method to match the measured displacements to the finite element solutions which depend on the unknown forming parameters. The manufacture of recent rear automotive screens illustrates this efficient numerical procedure.