Numerical Simulation of Hydroforming Process Involving a Tubular Blank with Dissimilar Thickness

Abstract

The research and development of innovative procedures have a vital importance to lightweight construction technology, in particular for future vehicle concepts. The implementation of modern lightweight construction concepts results in a specification emphasizing the aspects of both uniform forming of large-scale parts as well as complex local geometric details.

Keywords:

• Aluminium alloy
• Automotive industry
• Butt welded joint
• Closed section structures
• Finite element analysis
• lightweight structures
• Non linear analysis
• Numerical simulation
• Tailor welded blank
• Thickness variation
• Tubular blank
• Tubular hydroforming
• Virtual forming operations
• Vehicle design

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors truly acknowledge the funding provided by Ministerio da Ciência, Inovação e Ensino Superior – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal) under Grant POSI SFRH/BD/13013/2003; as well as the funding by FEDER/FSE, under grant POCTI/EME/47289/2002.