Purpose: Superplastic forming (SPF) technology exceeds the limit of standard presswork either of form or of thickness distribution, but the lead time and the energy expenditure are more onerous for industrial use. The aim of this work is to study the role that process parameters play in a superplastic forming manufacturing in order to minimize the processing times and the cost respecting the “total quality” of the finished product. Design/methodology/approach: Identified the basic parameters of SPF process that is the thickness of blank, the strain rate and the processing temperature, were chosen three different values for each of them. For each combination of parameters and using finite element software, a forming simulation of a sample part was made. Important parameters as thickness reduction, stress distribution, time/working pressure curve are calculated and evaluated. Findings: The obtained results were manipulated in order to create some global indicators that was analysed to study the reliance on process quality and production costs. Research limitations/implications: The other and more difficult to define parameters, such as cast and initial sheet shape, friction between cast and sheet, need to be evacuated because they also affect the optimisation process, as well as its affordability, that is the result of careful control of process variables. Practical implications: The highlighted dependencies are whatever useful, during process configuration, to drive production choices for quality improvement and cost reduction of superplastic formed components. Originality/value: The interesting result is that some dependencies are not as strong as expected from literature. As an example, the quality parameters dependence on the strain rate is no linear. So much as to the decrease of strain rate some indices worsen considerably. Keywords: Plastic forming; Superplastic materials; Numerical techniques

A method for setting variables in Super Plastic Forming process

CAPPETTI, Nicola;NADDEO, ALESSANDRO;PELLEGRINO, Arcangelo
2010-01-01

Abstract

Purpose: Superplastic forming (SPF) technology exceeds the limit of standard presswork either of form or of thickness distribution, but the lead time and the energy expenditure are more onerous for industrial use. The aim of this work is to study the role that process parameters play in a superplastic forming manufacturing in order to minimize the processing times and the cost respecting the “total quality” of the finished product. Design/methodology/approach: Identified the basic parameters of SPF process that is the thickness of blank, the strain rate and the processing temperature, were chosen three different values for each of them. For each combination of parameters and using finite element software, a forming simulation of a sample part was made. Important parameters as thickness reduction, stress distribution, time/working pressure curve are calculated and evaluated. Findings: The obtained results were manipulated in order to create some global indicators that was analysed to study the reliance on process quality and production costs. Research limitations/implications: The other and more difficult to define parameters, such as cast and initial sheet shape, friction between cast and sheet, need to be evacuated because they also affect the optimisation process, as well as its affordability, that is the result of careful control of process variables. Practical implications: The highlighted dependencies are whatever useful, during process configuration, to drive production choices for quality improvement and cost reduction of superplastic formed components. Originality/value: The interesting result is that some dependencies are not as strong as expected from literature. As an example, the quality parameters dependence on the strain rate is no linear. So much as to the decrease of strain rate some indices worsen considerably. Keywords: Plastic forming; Superplastic materials; Numerical techniques
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/3000621
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact