Rapid coupling optimization method for tube hydroforming process

Abstract

This paper deals with the optimization of tube hydroforming parameters in order to reduce defects that may occur at the end of the forming process such as necking and wrinkling. A specific methodology is proposed based on the coupling between an inverse finite element model for the rapid simulation of the tube hydroforming process, and a response surface method based on diffuse approximation. The response surfaces are built using moving least-squares approximations and constructed within a moving region of interest, which moves across a predefined discrete grid of authorized experimental designs. An application of hydroforming of a bulge from aluminium alloy 6061-T6 tubing has been utilized to validate the methodology. The final design is validated with ABAQUS Explicit Dynamic commercial code.

Link http://pib.sagepub.com/content/224/2/245