Simulation studies on Deep Drawing Process for the Evaluation of Stresses and Strains

Deep drawing is a sheet metal forming process in which a sheet metal blank is radially drawn into a forming die by the mechanical action of a punch. It is thus a shape transformation process with material retention. The process is considered drawing as the depth of the drawn part exceeds its diameter. The flange region (sheet metal in the die shoulder area) experiences a radial drawing stress and a tangential compressive stress due to the material retention property. These compressive stresses (hoop stresses) result in flange wrinkles. Wrinkles can be prevented by using a blank holder, the function of which is to facilitate controlled material flow into the die radius. The present study therefore aims at estimating the pattern of radial and hoop stress and strain distributions and their variation under different blank holding forces (BHF) and friction forces. In the paper , comparison between the stress and strain distribution with steel and copper materials also made by changing the blank holding force (BHF) and the friction force (FF) between the punch and the blank during the deep drawing process. The investigation of effect of friction and blank holding force is performed using the numerical software tool ABAQUS. ABAQUS software is used to model the deep drawing process to evaluate stresses under BHF and FF.