Study of Drawing Processes by Analytical and Finite Element Methods

The Finite Element Method (FEM) has become an indispensable tool in metal forming analysis [1,2]. Contrary to the traditional methods, FEM allows to analyze more realistic situations, either geometric and tensional. On the other hand, the drawing process is one of the most ancient metal forming operations and, nowadays, this process is widely used in industrial field. However, the influence of the main parameters in the mechanics and efficiency of the process has been scarcely studied. Drawing processes have been analysed by FEM, assuming plane strain and axisymmetrical conditions in order to check the possibility of extrapolating results from one case to another. Besides, this numerical method is compared with analytical and experimental methods. Also, FEM is used for studying the influence of several technological parameters on variables such as the drawing force or the die pressure, and for obtaining results of stresses and strains in certain regions of the model.