Formability of High Strength Sheet Metals with Special Regard to the Effect of the Influential Factors on the Forming Limit Diagrams

Car manufacturing is one of the main target fields of sheet metal forming: thus sheet metal forming is exposed to the same challenges as the automotive industry. The continuously increasing demand on lower consumption and lower CO2 emission means the highest challenges on materials developments besides design and construction. As a general requirement, the weight reduction and light weight construction principles should be mentioned together with the increased safety prescriptions which require the application of high strength steels. However, the application of high strength steels often leads to formability problems. Forming Limit Diagrams (FLD) are the most appropriate tools to characterize the formability of sheet metals. Theoretical and experimental investigations of forming limit diagrams are in the forefront of todays’ research activities.