Optimization of the structural and process parameters in the sheet metal forming process

The quality of the sheet metal forming product is determined by defects such as wrinkling, springback, etc. Optimization techniques can avoid such defects while the desired final shape is obtained. The design variables of the optimization process consist of the structural parameters and process parameters. The structural parameters are the initial blank shape, geometry, etc. and the process parameters are the blank holding force (BHF), the drawbead restraining force (DBRF), etc. In this paper, the two groups of parameters are separately optimized. The structural parameters are optimized by the equivalent static loads method for non linear static response structural optimization (ESLSO) and the process parameters are optimized by the response surface method (RSM). A couple of examples are solved by the iterative use of ESLSO and RSM, and the solutions are discussed.