Numerical Investigation on Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) of Tailor Welded Blanks (TWBs)

Abstract

TWB gives weight and cost-saving which are the ultimate desires of the automobile and shipbuilding industries. Despite having such tremendous advantages, the applications of TWBs have been limited due to the limitations of weld line movement and formability reduction compared to the base metal. In this research work, attempts have been made to study the forming behaviour of the tailor welded blanks (TWBs) during the single point incremental forming process. In this work, numerical simulation has been carried out using ABAQUS/Explicit. The TWBs are considered to be made from the friction stir welding (FSW) process. Different strategies of tool path movement have been adopted during the simulation of SPIF process and its effect on weld line movement has been studied. It has been found that the tool dragging effect plays an important role in weld line shift. As a conclusion, it was also observed that the initial position of the SPIF tool affects the weld line shift and stress–strain development as well.