Formabilities of steel/aluminium alloy laminated composite sheets

The tensile properties and press formabilities of laminates experimentally produced from mild steel and various aluminium alloy sheets are examined. The tensile properties of the laminates are approximately predictable by the mixture rule of the properties of the individual sheets. The forming limits in deep drawing, as well as stretch forming due to various types of fractures of the laminated composite sheets, cannot be predicted without considering the stress and strain histories of the individual sheets during forming. Furthermore, it is found that the drawability, as well as the stretch formability, is improved by setting the mild steel sheet on the punch side for the case of aluminium alloy sheet with comparatively high ductility, and by sandwiching the aluminium alloy sheet with the mild steel sheets for the case of low ductility.