Papers by Author: G. Palumbo

Abstract: In this work the Warm Hydroforming (WHF) process for the production of a 6xxx series Al alloy component has been investigated using a numerical/experimental approach: both experimental and numerical hydroforming tests were carried out using the alloy AC170PX, a pre aged (T4 condition) Al alloy often adopted for automotive applications. In order to evaluate both the mechanical and strain behaviour of the material, tensile tests were carried out at different temperature and strain rate levels using the Gleeble system 3180, keeping also into account the ageing effect; in addition, formability (Nakazima) tests in warm conditions were performed by means of a specific equipment and the Forming Limit Curves at different temperature levels were evaluated according to the ISO standard 12004-2. Hydroforming experiments were carried out using a prototypal press machine specifically designed for WHF and SuperPlastic Forming tests. Such tests, scheduled by a DoE approach, were aimed at investigating the suitability of using the investigated Al alloy in the WHF process: attention was thus focused on those parameters mainly affecting the aging phenomenon (temperature, heating time and cycle time). In order to overcome the actual physical limitation of the hydroforming facilities, a Finite Element (FE) model of the WHF process was also created implementing experimental data (flow stress curves and FLCs) and tuned using data from preliminary WHF tests. In particular, after setting the Coefficient Of Friction (COF) according to temperature and verifying the robustness of numerical simulations, the FE model was used for investigating: (i) the influence of the Blank Holder Force (neglected in the experimental campaign); (ii) the adoption of quite smaller values of the parameter cycle time (being the aim to determine higher strain rates in the material). Through the definition of proper response variables (Flatness, Bursting Pressure and Thickness Ratio) both experimental and numerical results were analyzed by means of polynomial Response Surfaces in order to evaluate the optimal process conditions.

Abstract: The present work focuses the attention on the Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) of the Titanium (Ti) alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Tensile tests were carried out using the optical strain measurement system Aramis3D, in order to determine the mechanical behaviour of the alloy and to investigate the anisotropy of such alloy. Finite Element (FE) simulations of the SPIF process (using ABAQUS/explicit) were performed using a simple but non-axialsymmetric shape (truncated pyramid) with the aim of investigating the effect of both the tool/pitch ratio (D/p) and the draw angle (α), taking into account the anisotropic behaviour. The analysis of plastic strains and thinning maps, together with the evaluation of shape errors originated by the forming process, highlighted that the parameter D/p plays a key role in the SPIF. Results from the preliminary FE analysis were used for investigating the production by SPIF of an automotive component (car door shell). A specific subroutine was created by the authors for automatically generating the tool path to be used in both the FE simulations and the manufacturing of parts by SPIF on a CNC milling machine.

Abstract: The present paper is focused on the Finite Element modeling of the Marciniak stretch-forming test in warm condition. Such a test was proposed by the authors for evaluating the warm formability of the Mg alloy AZ31 according to the most important parameters: the temperature and the strain rate. Tensile tests confirmed the large influence of the strain rate on the deformation of the AZ31, especially when the test temperature is over 200°C. Three dimensional FE simulations were thus carried out in order to analyze the strain and strain rate evolutions during the formability test at the temperature of 200°C. In particular, simulations were aimed at investigating the effect of the specimen’s geometry on the strain rate evolution in the central region, where failure occurs during the Marciniak stretch-forming test. An equation for calculating the punch speed profile able to keep a constant equivalent strain rate in the central region of the specimen has been furnished according to the geometry of the specimen. Its efficiency was validated by means of additional simulations implementing the punch speed profile calculated using the proposed approach.

Abstract: Using the optimum blank in sheet metal forming process not only can decrease the material wasting but also avoid possible defects such as local severe thinning, wrinkling and fracture. Since it is practical technology for industrial production, many blank optimization methods have been proposed and their validity was verified by some forming tests of typical or complicated components. However, all the forming tests were carried out at room temperature or under isothermal condition. In present work, a blank optimization method was employed to evaluate its efficiency in deep drawing of rectangular magnesium alloy cups under non-isothermal condition. It is proved by experiment that the employed blank optimization method can predict successfully the optimum initial blank shape for the component with specified shape and dimension.

Abstract: In this work a method, based on bulge tests performed on a blow forming equipment, for evaluating the superplastic material characteristics is proposed. The pressure imposed on the sheet and the height of the dome of the specimen during the test are used as characterizing parameters. Different pressure levels are applied subsequently in the same test and the strain rate sensitivity index is calculated starting with analytical considerations and then with an inverse approach based on a simple finite element numerical model of the test. The change of the slope in the specimen dome height curve, due to the change of the pressure, is correlated to the strain rate in the sheet. The method has been verified applying other load profiles on the sheet and good agreement has been found between experiments and numerical results obtained by the inverse analysis.

Abstract: In the present work the definition of a test procedure for evaluating the formability of Mg alloy thin sheets was investigated taking into account both temperature and strain rate. A numericalexperimental approach was adopted by the authors: numerical simulations were run with the aim of: (i) defining the punch geometry of the formability test equipment in order to have a uniform, fast and constant temperature distribution on the specimen; (ii) setting the test operating conditions in order to force the specimen failure in a region where temperature and strain can be easily acquired. Some formability tests were performed and strain fields were measured using an optical measurement system.

Abstract: In this work the superplastic behaviour of a hot rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet under a biaxial tension test with the blow forming technique is presented and reported. The specimen dome height and its thickness distribution, during and after the test, have been used as characterizing parameters. A numerical FE model of the test has been developed in order to easily characterize the material and to directly analyze experimental results. The influence of the rolling cycle on the microstructure and consequently on the material behaviour has been also analyzed. A synergic use of experimental results and of the numerical model has been done for finding material constants in different situations. The material flow parameters have been found and results are presented.

Abstract: In the present study, warm hydroforming of cell phone cases with magnesium alloy AZ31 sheets was investigated. Fine-grained magnesium alloy sheets were prepared by cross rolling. And the tensile tests were first conducted in order to determine the proper forming temperature. The results showed that the most suitable temperature range appears to be 150-200°C. At last, the magnesium alloy cell phone cases characterized with the small round radius of all edges were formed successfully at 170°C with the low punch velocity and the maximum pressure not less than 5MPa.

Abstract: Comparing the formability with each other, extrusion and various rolling experiments were carried out to make fine-grained AZ31 Mg sheets, and uni-axial tensile tests were carried out at different strain rates and temperatures to investigate the effect of different variables. A warm deep drawing tool setup with heating elements, which were distributed under the die surface and inside the blank holder, was designed and manufactured, and deep drawing was performed. Extruded Mg alloy AZ31 sheets exhibit the best deep drawing ability when working in the temperature range 250-350°C. Extruded and rolled sheets of 0.8 mm thick were also deep drawn in the lower temperature range 105-170°C，showing good formability and reaching a Limit Drawing Ratio up to 2.6 at 170°C for rolled sheets. At last, a sheet cup 0.4 mm thick was deep drawn successfully at 170 °C.