Analysis of Drawbead Process by Static-Explicit Finite Element Method

The problem analyzed here is a sheet metal forming process which requires a drawbead. The drawbead provides the sheet metal enough tension to be deformed plastically along the punch face and consequently, ensures a proper shape of final products by fixing the sheet to the die. Therefore, the optimum design of drawbead is indispensable in obtaining the desired formability. A static-explicit finite element analysis is carried out to provide a perspective tool for designing the drawbead. The finite element formulation is constructed from static equilibrium equation and takes into account the boundary condition that involves a proper contact condition. The deformation behavior of sheet material is formulated by the elastic-plastic constitutive equation. The finite element formulation has been solved based on an existing method that is called the static-explicit method. The main features of the static-explicit method are first that there is no convergence problem. Second, the problem of contact and friction is easily solved by application of very small time interval. During the analysis of drawbead processes, the strain distribution and the drawing force on drawbead can be analyzed. And the effects of bead shape and number of beads on sheet forming processes were investigated. The results of the static explicit analysis of drawbead processes show no convergence problem and comparatively accurate results even though severe high geometric and contact-friction nonlinearity. Moreover, the computational results of a static-explicit finite element analysis can supply very valuable information for designing the drawbead process in which the defects of final sheet product can be removed.