Analysis and design of hydroforming processes by the rigid-plastic finite element method

A three-dimensional finite element program, HydroForm-3D, based on the rigi d-plastic model for the analysis and design of hydroforming process was dev eloped. Several typical hydroforming processes such as tee extrusion, cross -extrusion, the hydroforming process combined with the pre-bent process and subframe are analyzed by using this numerical program. The hydraulic press ure force is applied to the normal direction of the tube workpiece by integ rating the pressure with respect to each element's surface area. The predic ted simulation results provide information on the actual design. This numer ical approach to the hydroforming process will be useful to the development and application for a wide range of automobile structural components. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.