Numerically controlled bending performance of medium strength TA18 titanium alloy tubes under different die sets

The rapid development of aviation and aerospace technologies has led to increased interest in the application of numerically controlled(NC) technology for bending light-weight titanium alloy tubes.In order to study and develop advanced NC bending technology,it is necessary to understand the bending performance of medium strength TA18(Ti-3Al-2.5V,ASTM Gr.9) titanium alloy tubes during NC bending under different die sets.This paper focuses on the bending performance of medium strength TA18 tubes under different NC bending die sets,including the variations in the stress,strain,wall thickness,cross sectional deformation,and defects.The results show that adding a wiper die to the base die set decreases the radial,hoop,and tangential compressive stress and the tangential compressive strain,and adding a mandrel to the base die set also decreases these stresses,but increases the radial and hoop tensile stress and decreases the hoop compressive strain obviously,and brings about a three-dimensional tensile stress concentration where the mandrel provides support.For the NC bending of medium strength TA18 tubes,the flattening of cross section is more sensitive index than the thinning of wall thickness.Introducing a mandrel can improve the flattening of cross section obviously but it has a little worse effect on the thinning of wall thickness,and adding a wiper die to the base die set can inhibit the occurrence of the inside bulge but worsen the flattening of the cross section remarkably.Considering the above effects of the mandrel and wiper die on bending performance,it is reasonable to apply the die set comprising a bending die,clamp die,and pressure die for tubes with a small diameter and the die set including an appropriate mandrel additionally for tubes with a larger diameter,in order to bend the medium strength TA18 tubes with high quality and at low cost.

Effect of geometrical parameters on forming quality of high-strength TA18 titanium alloy tube in numerical control bending

The forming quality of high-strength TA18 titanium alloy tube during numerical control bending in changing bending angle β, relative bending radius R/D and tube sizes such as diameter D and wall thickness t was clarified by finite element simulation. The results show that the distribution of wall thickness change ratio Δt and cross section deformation ratio ΔD are very similar under different β; the Δt and ΔD decrease with the increase of R/D, and to obtain the qualified bent tube, the R/D must be greater than 2.0; the wall thinning ratio Δto slightly increases with larger D and t, while the wall thickening ratio Δti and ΔD increase with the larger D and smaller t; the Δto and ΔD firstly decrease and then increase, while the Δti increases, for the same D/t with the increase of D and t.

Significance-based optimization of processing parameters for thin-walled aluminum alloy tube NC bending with small bending radius

Thin-walled aluminum alloy tube numerical control （NC） bending with small bending radius is a complex process with multi-factor coupling effects and multi-die constraints. A significance-based optimization method of the parameters was proposed based on the finite element （FE） simulation, and the significance analysis of the processing parameters on the forming quality in terms of the maximum wall thinning ratio and the maximum cross section distortion degree was implemented using the fractional factorial design. The optimum value of the significant parameter, the clearance between the tube and the wiper die, was obtained, and the values of the other parameters, including the friction coefficients and the clearances between the tube and the dies, the mandrel extension length and the boost velocity were estimated. The results are applied to aluminum alloy tube NC bending d50 mm×1 mm×75 mm and d70 mm×1.5 mm×105 mm （initial tube outside diameter D0 × initial tube wall thickness t0 × bending radius R）, and qualified tubes are produced.

Deformation behaviors of 21-6-9 stainless steel tube numerical control bending under different friction conditions

For contact dominated numerical control(NC) bending process of tube, the effect of friction on bending deformation behaviors should be focused on to achieve precision bending forming. A three dimensional(3D) elastic-plastic finite element(FE) model of NC bending process was established under ABAQUS/Explicit platform, and its reliability was validated by the experiment. Then, numerical study on bending deformation behaviors under different frictions between tube and various dies was explored from multiple aspects such as wrinkling, wall thickness change and cross section deformation. The results show that the large friction of wiper die-tube reduces the wrinkling wave ratio η and cross section deformation degree ΔD and increases the wall thinning degree Δt. The large friction of mandrel-tube causes large η, Δt and ΔD, and the onset of wrinkling near clamp die. The large friction of pressure die-tube reduces Δt and ΔD, and the friction on this interface has little effect on η. The large friction of bending die-tube reduces η and ΔD, and the friction on this interface has little effect on Δt. The reasonable friction coefficients on wiper die-tube, mandrel-tube, pressure die-tube and bending die-tube of 21-6-9(0Cr21Ni6Mn9N) stainless steel tube in NC bending are 0.05-0.15, 0.05-0.15, 0.25-0.35 and 0.25-0.35, respectively. The results can provide a guideline for applying the friction conditions to establish the robust bending environment for stable and precise bending deformation of tube bending.

A Numerical-analytic Method for Quickly Predicting Springback of Numerical Control Bending of Thin-walled Tube

Springback is one of important factors influencing the forming quality of numerical control （NC） bending of thin-walled tube. In this paper, a numerical-analytic method for springback angle prediction of the process was put forward. The method is based on springback angle model derived using analytic method and simulation results from three-dimensional （3D） rigid-plastic finite element method （FEM）. The method is validated through comparison with experimental results. The features of the method are as follows： （1） The method is high in efficiency because it combines advantages of rigid-plastic FEM and analytic method. （2） The method is satisfactory in accuracy, since the field variables used in the model is resulting from 3D rigid-plastic FEM solution, and the effects both of axial force and strain neutral axis shift have been included. （3） Research on multi-factor effects can be carried out using the method due to its advantage inheriting from rigid-plastic FEM. The method described here is also of general significance to other bending processes.

Integrated Systemfor Tube Bending Digital Manufacturing

An integrated CAD/CAPP/CAM system of tube manufacturing based on integration frame is presented. In this system, two kinds of data conventions describing tube shape are presented in tube CAD subsystem, the object-oriented concept and the goal-driven inference mechanism have been applied in the development of the knowledge-based CAPP subsystem and simulation of tube processing under tube bending simulation subsystem is performed based on the tube model＇s piecewise representation. A tube product case is considered to give the application of the integrated system, and the advantages of the system in the use of tube bending are revealed.

A Study on Multi-defect Constrained Bendability of Thin-walled Tube NC Bending Under Different Clearance

Thin-walled tube numerical control （NC） bending is a tri-nonlinear physical process with multi-defect and multi-die constraints. The clearance on each contact interface is the major factor to indicate the contact conditions. A three-dimensional-finite element （3D-FE） model is established to consider the realistic dynamic boundary conditions of multiple dies under ABAQUS/Explicit platform. Combined with experiment, numerical study on bending behavior and bendability under different clearance between tube and various dies is conducted in terms of wrinkling, wall thinning and cross section deformation. The results show that （1）with smaller clearance of tube-wiper die and tube-mandrel, the wrinkling can be restrained while the wall thinning It and cross-section deformation Id increase; while excessive small clearance blocks tube materials to flow past tangent point and causes piles up, the onset of wrinkling enhances It and Id. （2）Both It and Id decrease with smaller clearance of tube-pressure die; the wrinkling possibility rises with larger clearance on this interface if the mandrel’s freedom along Y-axis is opened; smaller clearance of tube-bend die prevents wrinkling while increases It, and the clearance on this interface has little effect on Id. （3）A modified Yoshida buckling test （YBT） is used to address the wrinkling mechanisms under normal constraints in tube bending： the smaller clearance may restrain wrinkling efficiently; the smaller wall thickness, the less critical clearance needed; the critical clearance for tube bending 38 mm×1 mm×57 mm （tube outer diameter×wall thickness×centerline bending radius） equals about 20% of initial wall thickness.

Deformation Behavior of Medium-strength TA18 High-pressure Tubes During NC Bending with Different Bending Radii

To improve the forming quality and forming limit of the numerical control （NC） bending of high-pressure titanium alloy tubes, in this study, using three-dimensional （3D） finite element method, deformation behavior of medium-strength TA 18 high-pressure tubes during NC bending with different bending radii is investigated. The results show that the cross-sectional deformation and the wall thickness variation during NC bending of TA18 tubes using a small bending radius （less than 2 times of tube outside diameter） are clearly different from that using a normal bending radius （between 2 and 4 times of tube outside diameter）. For bending with a normal bending radius, with or without a mandrel, the distribution of the flattening in the bending area resembles a platform and an asymmetric parabola, respectively. For bending with a small bending radius, with or without a mandrel, the flattening both distributes like a parabola, but the former has a stable peak which deflects toward the initial bending section, and the latter has a more pronounced peak with a bending angle and deflects slightly toward the bending section. The wall thickness variations with a normal bending radius, with and without a mandrel, both resemble a platform when the bending angle exceeds a certain angle. For the bending with a small radius, the distribution of the wall thickness variation without a mandrel follows an approximate parabola which increases in value as the bending angle increases. If a mandrel is used, the thickening ratio increases from the initial bending section to the bending section.

Wall Thinning Characteristics of Ti-3Al-2.5V Tube in Numerical Control Bending Process

A finite element(FE) model for the numerical control(NC) bending of Ti-3 Al-2.5 V titanium alloy seamless tube is established, considering the variation in the contractile strain ratio(CSR) and elastic modulus(E). The wall thinning characteristics of Ti-3 Al-2.5 V tube under different geometric and process conditions were investigated. The results showed that the CSR-E variation can change the wall thickness, but has no remarkable effect on the change characteristics. The reasonable parameter ranges are as follows: a bending-radius range not less than 1.5 times the outer diameter, a bend angle up to 180?, and a mandrel extension of 0-3 mm. The friction coefficient between the pressure die and the tube should be in the range of 0.20-0.35, and between the bending die and the tube should be in the range of 0.05-0.15. As long as the performance meets the requirements, the relative push-assistant speed should be as small as possible.