Modeling of metal forming processes: implementation of an iterative solverin the flow formulation

Rigid-viscoplastic models of metal forming processes are mathematically for mulated as non-linear Stokes problems: incompressible flows with variable v iscosity, function of the point velocities. When discretizing those mathema tical models using either u-p or velocity interpolated finite element formu lations with the incompressibility imposed via penalty techniques, bad cond itioned matrices are obtained. In this paper we discuss the implementation of an iterative solver for the efficient solution or the resulting equation systems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.