A bulge forming method has been applied to form the structural machine parts, since high reliability in strength can be achieved by the method. However, an amount of thickness reduction in the method has to be estimated.
There has been increasing interest in the development of a simulation system of a plastic forming process, and it is important to understand the plastic deformation behavior during the bulge forming process.
A study has been made of the formation behavior and the strain distribution in an axial symmetrical model in the bulge forming process experimentally.
It was clear from the results that the axial compressive load prevents the thickness reduction, and this effect was evaluated quantitativery.
It was also found that the forming pressure could be decreased with applying the axial compressive load.
As the result it was made easy to control the thickness reduction and determine the forming conditions. It is expected that greater accuracy of the simulation in the bulge forming process can be obtained when data base is established based on these results.
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