High-Temperature Forming of a Vehicle Closure Component in Fine-Grained Aluminum Alloy AA5083: Finite Element Simulations and Experiments

Abstract

Fine-grained AA5083 aluminum-magnesium alloy sheet can be formed into complex closure components with the Quick Plastic Forming process at high temperature (450oC). Material models that account for both the deformation mechanisms active during forming and the effect of stress state on material response are required to accurately predict final sheet thickness profiles, the locations of potential forming defects and forming cycle time. This study compares Finite Element (FE) predictions for forming of an automobile decklid inner panel in fine-grained AA5083 using two different material models. These are: the no-threshold, two-mechanism (NTTM) model and the Zhao. The effect of sheet/die friction is evaluated with five different sheet/die friction coefficients. Comparisons of predicted sheet thickness profiles with those obtained from a formed AA5083 panel shows that the NTTM model provides the most accurate predictions.