Finite element modeling of sheet-metal blanking operations with experimental verification

In order to accurately simulate sheet-metal cutting processes by material s hearing mechanisms, such as blanking and punching processes, a finite eleme nt model valid for the numerical description of such processes has been dev eloped. Damage and crack propagation have been taken into account by means of an elastoplastic constitutive law. To study the effects of variation of processes parameters on the geometry of sheared edges and the force-punch p enetration evolution, we have implemented the algorithm of calculation by m eans of users routine (UMAT) of ABAQUS/Standard finite element code. Final results of the FEM simulation agree with the experimental ones. (C) 2000 Pu blished by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.