In order to effectively and efficiently hydroform new automotive components, the formability of new tubular steels must be evaluated. Standard forming limit diagrams have been used for decades to evaluate and predict the formability of sheet steel formed along linear strain paths. However, tube hydroforming can present a problem since the pre-bending stage used in many hydroforming operations causes multiple non-linear strain paths. This thesis has modified a formability test method that deforms small-scale sheet steel samples in a single plane. The sample geometries were designed such that the strain paths achieved at the center of the samples were very near the plane strain condition. The four steels chosen for this study were: a deep drawing quality (DDQ), a high strength low alloy (HSLA) and two dual phase steels (DP600 and DP780). The plane strain formability for each of the four steels was tested in both the rolling and transverse directions. Three objective criteria were employed to evaluate and directly compare the formability of the four steels tested: difference in strain, difference in strain rate and local necking. The DDQ steel showed the highest formability followed in order by the HSLA, DP600 and DP780 steels. The repeatability in determining the forming limit strains using the difference in strain, the difference in strain rate and the local necking criteria for a 95% confidence interval was ± 1.5%, ± 1.2% and ± 3.2% engineering strain, respectively. The forming limit data collected for this thesis has been compared to results from full-scale tube hydroforming operations and free expansion tube burst tests carried out by researchers at the University of Waterloo on the same four materials. It was found that local necking results could be used to predict failure of hydroformed HSLA steel tubes with low levels of end-feed. However, this same method could only predict the failure of hydroformed DP600 steel tubes at higher levels of end-feed. The three objective criteria were not found to be suitable for predicting failure of free expansion tube burst tests. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2007-09-27 15:00:35.873

iv Sheet metal forming technologies are challenged especially by the improvements in the automotive industry in the last decades. To fulfill the customer expectations, safety requirements and market competitions, new production technologies have been implemented. This study focuses on the assessment of conventional and new sheet metal forming technologies by performing a systematic analysis. A geometry spectrum consisting of six different circular, elliptic, quad cross-sections are selected for the assessment of conventional deep drawing, hydro-mechanical deep drawing and high-pressure sheet metal forming. Within each cross-section, three different equivalent drawing ratios are used as a variant. More than 200 numerical experiments are performed to predict the forming limits of three competing processes. St14 stainless steel is used as the material throughout the assessment study. The deformation behavior is described by an elasto-plastic material model and all numerical simulations are carried out by using dynamic-explicit commercial The process validation is done by interpreting the strain results of numerical experiment. Therefore, the reliability of predictions in the assessment study highly depends on the quality of simulations. The precision of numerical experiments are verified by comparing to NUMISHEET benchmarks, analytical formulation, and experiments to increase the assets of the assessment study. The analyses revealed that depending on the workpiece geometry and dimensional properties certain processes are more preferable for obtaining satisfactory products. The process limits for each process are established based on the analyzed crosssections of the spectrum. This data is expected to be useful for predicting the formability limits and for selecting the appropriate production process according to a given workpiece geometry.Dynamic-explicit FEM, Deep drawing, Hydroforming, Forming limits, Process evaluation

The thesis presents an analysis and optimization of the manufacturing process of a part using the technology of parallel hydroforming. Two circular blanks made of DC01 steel with a thickness of 1 mm serve as a semi-manufactured part. In one of the blanks, the supply of the forming medium is constructed using Flowdrill technology. Subsequently, the two blanks are laser welded together and then formed. Numerical simulation using PAM-STAMP software was used to analyse the manufacturing process. This analysis provided information on wall thinning, deformation size, critical points on the product and springback. The numerical simulation was verified on the basis of comparison with an experiment. The criterion for verification was the course of the thickness of the part. Based on the results of the simulation, an optimization is performed in the thesis. It consists in determining the minimum required pressure of the forming medium for pressing the part, particularly for different distances between the two formed sheets.

Die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Potenziale des temperierten Innenhochdruck-Umformens mit flüssigen Wirkmedien (T-IHU) von Rohren aus verschiedenen Magnesium- und Aluminiumknetlegierungen werden in der vorliegenden Arbeit aufgezeigt. Neben der Werkstoff- und Halbzeugcharakterisierung, der Auslegung von temperierten Innenhochdruck-Umformanlagen und –werkzeugen, den Thermografiemessungen am Halbzeug unter Realbedingungen und der Verifizierung der Simulationsergebnisse des T-IHU-Werkzeuges war der inhaltliche Schwerpunkt die systematische experimentelle Bestimmung der maximalen Umfangserweiterung ∆u_max in Anhängigkeit von der Umformtemperatur ϑ_u, dem Werkstoff und der Wanddicke s₀ im Temperaturbereich von 22°C bis 300°C an drei Versuchsgeometrien T-Stück, Zylinder und Quader bei Innendrücken bis 800 bar. Neben dem Einfluss der Prozessparameter, der Werkstoff- und Halbzeugeigenschaften und der Ausgangswanddicke wurde der signifikante Einfluss der Umformtemperatur und der Umformgeometrie auf die erreichbaren Umfangserweiterungen herausgearbeitet und systematisch dargestellt. Es wurden Umfangsdehnungen von bis zu 120 % (bei ϑ_u = 300°C) erzielt. Die experimentelle Bestimmung der minimal auszuformenden Bauteilaußenradien erfolgte unter Anwendung der statistischen Versuchsplanung. Aus den Regressionsgleichungen wurde eine neue Berechnungsgleichung für den maximalen Innendruck p_imax generiert. Durch die Verifikation dieser Gleichung konnte die hohe Genauigkeit bei der Vorausberechnung des erforderlichen Innendruckes bei einem vorgegebenen minimalen Bauteilaußenradius R_min in Abhängigkeit von der Zugfestigkeit R_m als f (Umformtemperatur) und der Wanddicke s₀ nachgewiesen werden. Die Auslegung der T-IHU-Werkzeug- und Anlagentechnik kann damit wesentlich genauer er­folgen. Durch die Bauteilanalysen nach dem T-IHU-Prozess konnten die hohe Maß- und Formgenauigkeit und die hohe und gleichmäßigere Oberflächengüte nachgewiesen werden. Trotz der beginnenden dynamischen Rekristallisation lag bei allen Versuchswerkstoffen eine Erhöhung der Werkstofffestigkeit in der Umformzone vor. Bei den Untersuchungen bzgl. des T-IHU des Realbauteiles „PKW-Querträger vorn“ konnten die Kenntnisse der Grundlagenuntersuchungen auf ein komplex geformtes Realteil übertragen und erweitert werden. Es zeigte sich, dass der Einsatz von T-IHU-Magnesiumbauteilen ein erhebliches Potenzial für weitere Gewichtsreduzierungen von Leichtbaukonstruktionen besitzt. / This paper presents the potential applications of temperature-supported hydroforming of various magnesium and aluminium alloy tubes using active liquid media. It includes details of material and semi-finished product characterisation, the design of temperature-supported hydroforming equipment and tools, thermography measurements on the semi-finished product under real conditions and verification of simulation results for the temperature-supported hydroforming tool. The main focus, however, was the systematic, experimental approach to determining the maximum increase in perimeter ∆u_max as a function of the forming temperature ϑ_u, the material and the wall thickness s₀ in the temperature range 22°C to 300°C for three trial geometries (T‑piece, cylinder and cuboid) at internal pressures of up to 800 bar. In addition to studying the effect of process parameters, material properties, semi-finished product characteristics and initial wall thickness, the paper also presents the finding that forming temperature and forming geometry have a significant impact on achievable increases in perimeter. Perimeter expansions of up to 120 % were attained (at ϑ_u = 300°C). Statistically designed experiments were used to determine the minimum component outside-radii to undergo the forming process. A new equation for calculating the maximum internal pressure p_imax was generated from regression equations. By verifying this equation, it was possible to demonstrate the high level of accuracy in predicting the internal pressure required for a given minimum component outside-radius R_min as a function of the tensile strength R_m as f(forming temperature) and of the wall thickness s₀. This means that the temperature-supported hydroforming tool and system equipment can be designed far more accurately. Component analyses after the temperature-supported hydroforming process demonstrated the high level of dimensional and geometrical accuracy and the high quality and more consistent surface finish. Despite the onset of dynamic re-crystallisation, the strength of the material was increased in the forming zone in all the materials tested. The knowledge gained from researching the fundamental principles was applied to a real component with a complex shape in studies of temperature-supported hydroforming of the "front car cross-member", which provided further useful insights. It was found that the use of temperature-supported hydroforming magnesium components has considerable potential for further weight reduction in lightweight constructions.

Die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Potenziale des temperierten Innenhochdruck-Umformens mit flüssigen Wirkmedien (T-IHU) von Rohren aus verschiedenen Magnesium- und Aluminiumknetlegierungen werden in der vorliegenden Arbeit aufgezeigt. Neben der Werkstoff- und Halbzeugcharakterisierung, der Auslegung von temperierten Innenhochdruck-Umformanlagen und –werkzeugen, den Thermografiemessungen am Halbzeug unter Realbedingungen und der Verifizierung der Simulationsergebnisse des T-IHU-Werkzeuges war der inhaltliche Schwerpunkt die systematische experimentelle Bestimmung der maximalen Umfangserweiterung ∆u_max in Anhängigkeit von der Umformtemperatur ϑ_u, dem Werkstoff und der Wanddicke s₀ im Temperaturbereich von 22°C bis 300°C an drei Versuchsgeometrien T-Stück, Zylinder und Quader bei Innendrücken bis 800 bar. Neben dem Einfluss der Prozessparameter, der Werkstoff- und Halbzeugeigenschaften und der Ausgangswanddicke wurde der signifikante Einfluss der Umformtemperatur und der Umformgeometrie auf die erreichbaren Umfangserweiterungen herausgearbeitet und systematisch dargestellt. Es wurden Umfangsdehnungen von bis zu 120 % (bei ϑ_u = 300°C) erzielt. Die experimentelle Bestimmung der minimal auszuformenden Bauteilaußenradien erfolgte unter Anwendung der statistischen Versuchsplanung. Aus den Regressionsgleichungen wurde eine neue Berechnungsgleichung für den maximalen Innendruck p_imax generiert. Durch die Verifikation dieser Gleichung konnte die hohe Genauigkeit bei der Vorausberechnung des erforderlichen Innendruckes bei einem vorgegebenen minimalen Bauteilaußenradius R_min in Abhängigkeit von der Zugfestigkeit R_m als f (Umformtemperatur) und der Wanddicke s₀ nachgewiesen werden. Die Auslegung der T-IHU-Werkzeug- und Anlagentechnik kann damit wesentlich genauer er­folgen. Durch die Bauteilanalysen nach dem T-IHU-Prozess konnten die hohe Maß- und Formgenauigkeit und die hohe und gleichmäßigere Oberflächengüte nachgewiesen werden. Trotz der beginnenden dynamischen Rekristallisation lag bei allen Versuchswerkstoffen eine Erhöhung der Werkstofffestigkeit in der Umformzone vor. Bei den Untersuchungen bzgl. des T-IHU des Realbauteiles „PKW-Querträger vorn“ konnten die Kenntnisse der Grundlagenuntersuchungen auf ein komplex geformtes Realteil übertragen und erweitert werden. Es zeigte sich, dass der Einsatz von T-IHU-Magnesiumbauteilen ein erhebliches Potenzial für weitere Gewichtsreduzierungen von Leichtbaukonstruktionen besitzt. / This paper presents the potential applications of temperature-supported hydroforming of various magnesium and aluminium alloy tubes using active liquid media. It includes details of material and semi-finished product characterisation, the design of temperature-supported hydroforming equipment and tools, thermography measurements on the semi-finished product under real conditions and verification of simulation results for the temperature-supported hydroforming tool. The main focus, however, was the systematic, experimental approach to determining the maximum increase in perimeter ∆u_max as a function of the forming temperature ϑ_u, the material and the wall thickness s₀ in the temperature range 22°C to 300°C for three trial geometries (T‑piece, cylinder and cuboid) at internal pressures of up to 800 bar. In addition to studying the effect of process parameters, material properties, semi-finished product characteristics and initial wall thickness, the paper also presents the finding that forming temperature and forming geometry have a significant impact on achievable increases in perimeter. Perimeter expansions of up to 120 % were attained (at ϑ_u = 300°C). Statistically designed experiments were used to determine the minimum component outside-radii to undergo the forming process. A new equation for calculating the maximum internal pressure p_imax was generated from regression equations. By verifying this equation, it was possible to demonstrate the high level of accuracy in predicting the internal pressure required for a given minimum component outside-radius R_min as a function of the tensile strength R_m as f(forming temperature) and of the wall thickness s₀. This means that the temperature-supported hydroforming tool and system equipment can be designed far more accurately. Component analyses after the temperature-supported hydroforming process demonstrated the high level of dimensional and geometrical accuracy and the high quality and more consistent surface finish. Despite the onset of dynamic re-crystallisation, the strength of the material was increased in the forming zone in all the materials tested. The knowledge gained from researching the fundamental principles was applied to a real component with a complex shape in studies of temperature-supported hydroforming of the "front car cross-member", which provided further useful insights. It was found that the use of temperature-supported hydroforming magnesium components has considerable potential for further weight reduction in lightweight constructions.