Universal formability technology and applications

In the stamping industry, there are certain needs to develop formability technology to process a great amount of (raw) mechanics data obtained from both experiment and mechanics calculation, especially in automotive body manufacturing. Universal formability technology (UFT), based on mathematical plasticity theories, has been developed to meet the needs. UFT includes six sections: (a) forming mode theory; (b) bending process models; (c) universal formability theory; (d) stamping process window; (e) control principles of metal flow tendency; (f) stamping similarity theory. Using UFT, relationships between/among the severities of six types of defects and seven types of stamping variables can be established quantitatively. This has been applied successfully for: (a) product feasibility analysis; (b) material selection; (c) strain-level draw die development; (d) post analysis of finite element analysis results; (e) a stamping engineering expert system; (f) production control. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.