Numerical analysis of maximum force in deep drawing processes of prismatic parts

Abstract

The high competitiveness of the industrial sector and the short time for developing new products drives the use of process analysis tools that enable speeding up the design phase. In sheet metal stamping projects, numerical simulation has become indispensable. As a replacement for traditional trial-and-error methods, the finite element method (FEM) enables the optimization of process-related variables. Consequently, it is possible to mitigate some of its main problems, such as the emergence of fracture, wrinkling, and springback. A second alternative for analyzing the process, even faster and cheaper, is based on the use of analytical calculations. These can predict, among other parameters, the forces involved in stamping. This study aims to evaluate the degree of accuracy of equations predicted in the literature to estimate the maximum stamping force of non-axisymmetric parts. For this purpose, analytical results of the stamping force of 1 mm thick austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 sheets were compared to results obtained via numerical simulation.