Age-forming of beam structures ’ analysis of springback using a unified viscoplastic model

Abstract

A unified viscoplastic constitutive equation is combined with the Bernoulli-Euler beam equations to create a model to describe autoclave age forming of beam structures used in aerospace structures. Predictions of ‘springback’ based on the model are obtained numerically and compared with experimental data for pure aluminium and 7075 aluminium alloy. Accurate predictions are found between model simulations and experimental observations. Issues related to extensions of the methodology to more complicated geometries are discussed.