FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE SUPERPLASTIC FORMING OF THICK SHEET USING THE INCREMENTAL FLOW FORMULATION

The paper discusses the finite element analysis of the superplastic fo rming of thick sheet components. The incremental formulation proposed is based on a geometrical approximation of the flow type of constituti ve equations that describe the behaviour of the alloy during forming. The spatial discretization is achieved using eight-noded finite elemen ts. An algorithm capable of predicting the correct forming pressure is also presented in a form consistent with the incremental flow formula tion. Some experimental validation of these techniques will be shown t ogether with a number of more realistic applications which will illust rate the generality of these techniques and their ability to simulate the forming of complex components. Most of the material in this sectio n is standard but has been included for the purpose of completeness an d to introduce the reader to the notation used in the paper. (C) 1997 by John Wiley Br Sons, Ltd.