Prediction of forming limit curve for pure titanium sheet

Commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) has been actively used in the plate heat exchanger due to its light weight, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance. However, researches for the plastic deformation characteristics and press formability of the CP Ti sheet are not much in comparison with automotive steels and aluminum alloys. The mechanical properties and hardening behavior evaluated in stress-strain relation of the CP Ti sheet are clarified in relation with press formability. The flow curve denoting true stress-true strain relation for CP Ti sheet is fitted well by the Kim-Tuan hardening equation rather than Voce and Swift models. The forming limit curve (FLC) of CP Ti sheet as a criterion for press formability was experimentally evaluated by punch stretching test and analytically predicted via Hora's modified maximum force criterion. The predicted FLC by adopting Kim-Tuan hardening model and appropriate yield function shows good correlation with the experimental results of punch stretching test.