Springback Angle and Plastic Elongation Prediction of Thin-Walled Tube Bending by FEM

Abstract

Springback is an inevitable phenomenon while the load is released due to the elastic property after tube bending. This leads to an increase in the radius of curvature and elongation by plastic deformation, a reduction in the bending angle of the bent tube, a decrease in dimensional accuracy and fits with others difficulty. By elastic–plastic finite element methods (FEM), a reasonable simulation model for thin-walled tube bending is established to define the relationships between process parameters and springback angle, plastic deformation. With 210 kinds of models, the results show that: 1) Springback angle and plastic elongation of bending tube are related to bending angle, bending die diameter and tube thickness. 2) Controlling functions for plastic elongation and springback angle in bending tube process are given, which is verified by tube bending experiments.