A Prediction of the Optimal Blank Contour of an Inner Elliptic Flange from Flanging

Abstract

In this paper, the finite element method is employed in conjunction with the abductive network to predict the optimum blank contour of an inner elliptic flange with unevenness in the flanging process. Different flange heights combined with various aspect ratios of the inner elliptic flange are taken into account as the process parameters in this study. A finite element-based code is utilized to investigate the material flow characteristics under different process parameters, and the abductive network is then employed to synthesize the data sets obtained from numerical simulations, thus establishing a predictive model. From this model, an optimal blank contour for producing an elliptic inner flange with unevenness can be found.