On strain localisation in tube hydroforming of aluminium extrusions

Abstract

One important issue when simulating tube hydroforming is to predict bursting, i.e. when the increase in cavity pressure cannot be compensated by hardening of the tube material. Traditionally, this is made by a forming limit diagram (FLD), where the limit strains determine whether a material point is experiencing necking or failure. However, the experimental FLD depends on the strain path, and the methods which are used to determine the FLD are adapted to conventional deep drawing which, depending on the process characteristics, could make it unsuitable for tube hydroforming applications. In this work, analytical and numerical forming limit predictions are studied from a hydroforming point of view. These predictions are then applied to free bulge cases, and a case with extensive feeding in a die where the results from the latter case is compared to experiments. Further, the influence from extrusion welds and a circumferential thickness distribution on the forming limit is also evaluated.