Forming Characteristics of Tailored Blanks In The Deep Drawing Process

Abstract

Demand for lightweight vehicles is growing in a rapid swiftness primarily because of economical and environmental reasons. By reducing the weight of the vehicles, the fuel consumption and emissions are considerably reduced as well. For weight and cost reduction, the technology of tailor-welded blanks (TWBs) is a promising technology for both automotive and aerospace sectors. In this technology, some pieces of sheet metals are welded together prior to the forming. Since the tailored blank is composed from different sheet metal having different sheet thickness as well as its properties, the forming of tailored blank then creates a lot of technical problem especially in the scheme of deformation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the material flow and the strain distributions of tailored blanks during the forming process. Deep drawing of a cylindrical cup from tailored blanks was done in order to observe the influence of the hardening of the weld on the material flow of the tailor-welded blanks. Punch diameter was 50 mm and initial blank diameters were 150 mm. The result of experiment shows that flow of tailor-welded blanks in a process of deep drawing is considerably different from the flow of homogeneous blanks. Wrinkling has been appeared in the thinner wall Another effect present in drawing of tailor welded blanks made from the base materials of different strength or thickness is a movement of the weld line towards the material of greater strength or thickness.