Direct Design Method Based on Ideal Forming Theory for Hydroforming and Flanging Processes

Conventional practices to predict preform shapes in hydroformimg and flanging processes are based on FEM analysis and/or experiment, which require many trials. In an effort to effectively improve the design procedure by overcoming the indirect nature of the conventional design tools, a direct design method based on the ideal forming theory has been previously developed as a newly added design tool in the design procedure. Here, the direct design method based on the ideal forming theory was applied to the preform design for hydroforming and flanging operations. In order to account for anisotropy, the anisotropic strain rate potential which simultaneously accounts for the anisotropy of yield stress as well as the anisotropy of plastic strain ratio was used as a part of the constitutive equation.