Electromagnetic Formability of an Aluminium Ice Tray

Abstract

Electromagnetic forming (EMF) is a typical high speed forming process using the energy density of a pulsed magnetic field to form work sheets made of metals with high electrical conductivity like aluminium alloys, which have low formability at low strain rate. Under high velocity forming, metallic materials exhibit an increase of flow stress and ductility with increasing deformation rate. Therefore, materials of lower ductility can be deformed to higher strains using high strain rate deformation processes such as electromagnetic or explosive forming techniques. In this paper analysis of an electromagnetic sheet metal forming process is carried out by using commercial finite element software LS-DYNA®, which incorporates a sequential coupling method involving electromagnetic field, structural and thermal solutions. Study of process parameters for forming aluminium ice tray (used in refrigerator) by Electromagnetic forming process has been carried out, simulation was done involving a die, Al worksheet and a spiral coil.