Prediction of shape distortions during forming and welding of a double-curved strip geometry in alloy 718

Abstract

AbstractThe finite element method (FEM) has considerably contributed to the development of advanced manufacturing methods for metal structures. The prediction of the final shape of a component is of great interest to the manufacturing industry. The level of demand may increase due to multistage processes. Therefore, including all steps of the manufacturing chain in the simulations is a key to being successful. This has been done for a long time in the stamping industry, which involves sequences of forming, trimming, and springback. However, more complex manufacturing procedures that include assembling of formed parts with forgings and castings via welding have been modelled with simplifications, resulting in a reduced prediction accuracy. In the present study, a double-curved part manufactured from alloy 718 is formed at 20 °C and laser-welded using the bead-on-plate procedure. The coupling of different manufacturing analyses, including cold forming, trimming, result mapping, welding, cooling, and springback, is achieved using LS-DYNA. Additionally, the effect of adding a damage and failure model in the forming simulation is studied. The results of the forming analysis are used as inputs for the material model *MAT_CWM in the welding simulation. The anisotropic thermomechanical properties of alloy 718 are determined at temperatures up to 1000 °C. Encouraging agreement is found between the model predictions and the results of forming and welding tests. The findings underscore the importance of including the material history and accurate process conditions along the manufacturing chain to both the prediction accuracy of shape distortions, and to the potential of the industry.