Miniaturization in sheet metal working

Miniaturization of sheet metal working processes causes changes in the rela tive contribution of relevant process parameters. As a result, so-called se cond-order size effects occur. The present paper should give a survey of di fferent kinds of second-order size effects that can be expected in tensile testing, air bending and punching of sheet metal. These size effects show t o be commensurable when the process conditions are similar to a certain amo unt, as it is the case for tensile testing and air bending. However, they c hange or even diminish when the process conditions are very different, as f or example in punching. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.