Simulation of sheet metal forming on the basis of the deformation theory and optimization techniques

The basic approach for the simulation of the sheet metal forming in this pa per is a reduction of the whole process to a mapping between the undeformed and the deformed configuration. One major aim consists in a fast code that can be used in the design stage of a workpiece. The approach has to permit first statements to the producibility of the workpiece. Since the configur ations are given, the central question raises is the placement of a materia l points in the deformed configuration. In this approximation the necessary consideration of plastic material behaviour is possible only on the basis of the deformation theory of plasticity. The present paper is restricted, f or simplicity, to the membrane stress state in the shelf and to isotropic m aterial behaviour.