AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUPERPLASTIC FORMING OF A THIN CIRCULAR DIAPHRAGM

A new engineering model for the superplastic forming of domes has been developed. Unlike the well-known Jovane's model [1], it allows one to predict the thickness distribution of the domes. The approach involve d permits the calculation of the pressure-time cycle and the thickness distribution without complicated numerical calculations. The superpla stic bulge forming of domes was used as a test case. In spite of the s implicity of the model suggested, good agreement between the theoretic al predictions and experimental data and results known from the litera ture was obtained.