Papers by Author: Sheng Liu

Abstract: Two-point incremental sheet forming process (TPIF) is an emerging and promising manufacturing process for the production of complex geometries or customized functional sheet components. In this study, the single-pass TPIF process is investigated using experimental and numerical approaches to study the forming force evolution, fracture behavior and strain states with a varied wall angle hemisphere shape. It can be concluded that both the peak force and fracture depth increases with tool diameter and incremental depth in TPIF process. It seems the deformation mechanism or the failure mechanism is strongly dependent on particular forming conditions based on a failure parts morphology observation. FEM simulation results indicated that the major plastic strain is positive while the minor plastic strain is negative in the TPIF process on a hemiphere shape. it can be concluded that the strain increment and total equivalent plastic strain is affected by both tool diameter and incremental depth.

Abstract: Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF) is a new-emerging sheet forming process well suited for small batch production or prototyping because it does not need any dedicated dies or punches. In this forming process, sheet metal parts are formed by a smooth-end tool in a stepwise way, during which plastic deformation is highly localized around the tool end. The part geometric accuracy obtained in the current ISF process, however, has not met the industry specification for precise part fabrication. This paper deals with a study on step depth, a critical parameter in ISF, for improving the geometric accuracy, surface quality and formability. Two sets of experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of step depth on part quality. Dimensional accuracy, surface morphology and material fracture of deformed parts were compared and analysed. An optimum value of step depth was suggested for forming a truncated cone. The present work provided significant fundamental information for the development of an advanced ISF control system on tool path control and optimization.

Abstract: A deconvolution method that combines nanoindentation and finite element analysis was developed to determine elastic modulus of thin coating layer in a coating-substrate bilayer system. In this method, the nanoindentation experiments were conducted to obtain the modulus of both the bilayer system and the substrate. The finite element analysis was then applied to deconvolve the elastic modulus of the coating. The results demonstrated that the elastic modulus obtained using the developed method was in good agreement with that reported in literature.