The Effect of Variable Blank-Holder Forces on the Formability of Aluminum Alloy Sheets during Sheet Metal Forming

In this paper, the effect of variable Blank-holder forces (VBHF) on the strain path during sheet metal forming has been investigated by numerical simulation and experiments. The formability of select aluminum alloy sheet was evaluated by theory prediction of forming limit curve based on the M-K method. The effect of different VBHF on the formability was presented. In order to verify the predictions of strain path, experiments are being carried out using a recently-built multi-points variable blank-holder forces hydraulic press. The results show that large side BHF with small comer BHF during rectangular box deep drawing can improve the formability of the selected aluminum alloy