Numerical Investigation on Comparison of Electromagnetic Forming and Drawing for Electromagnetic Forming Characterization

Abstract

Due to environmental regulations, vehicle weight reduction technology has recently emerged as a key factor influencing market competitiveness in the automobile industry. Although the demand for aluminum alloy for vehicle weight reduction is increasing, its application in the automobile industry is limited due to its low formability. Electromagnetic forming (EMF) technology has been proposed as a method to improve the low formability of aluminum alloys. EMF is a technology of forming a metal workpiece at high speed without physical contact by applying a strong electromagnetic field to the workpiece to be formed. In this study, we performed an analytical study on the characteristics of electromagnetic forming. Finite element analysis was performed with the same model as in the general drawing process, and the results of the forming process, formability, and finite element analysis were compared. Through the results of finite element analysis, it was confirmed that the EMF process showed significant deformation at the die shoulder and center. Furthermore, EMF has an advantage in formability due to having a smaller amount of sheet inflow than the drawing process; however, its forming accuracy is low.