Simulation Inputs

Simulation Inputs

 

Predicting metal flow and failure is the essence of sheet metal forming simulation.  Characterizing the stress-strain response to metal flow requires a detailed understanding of when the sheet metal first starts to permanently deform (known as the yield criteria), how the metal strengthens with deformation (the hardening law), and the failure criteria (for example, the forming limit curve). Complicating matters is that each of these responses changes as three-dimensional metal flow occurs, and are functions of temperature and forming speed. 

The ability to simulate these features reliably and accurately requires mathematical constitutive laws that are appropriate for the material and forming environments encountered. Advanced models typically improve prediction accuracy, at the cost of additional numerical computational time and the cost of experimental testing to determine the material constants. Minimizing these costs requires compromises, with some of these indicated in Table I created based on Citation R-28.

Table I: Deviations from reality made to reduce simulation costs. Based on Citations B-16 and R-28.

Table I: Deviations from reality made to reduce simulation costs. Based on Citation R-28.

 

Yield Criteria

The yield criteria (also known as the yield surface or yield loci) defines the conditions representing the transition from elastic to plastic deformation.  Assuming uniform metal properties in all directions allows for the use of isotropic yield functions like von Mises or Tresca. A more realistic approach considers anisotropic metal flow behavior, requiring the use of more complex yield functions like those associated with Hill, Barlat, Banabic, or Vegter.   

No one yield function is best suited to characterize all metals. Some yield functions have many required inputs.  For example, “Barlat 2004-18p” has 18 separate parameters leading to improved modeling accuracy – but only when inserting the correct values. Using generic textbook values is easier, but negates the value of the chosen model.  However, determining these variables typically is costly and time-consuming, and requires the use of specialized test equipment.

 

Hardening Curve

Metals get stronger as they deform, which leads to the term work hardening. The flow stress at any given amount of plastic strain combines the yield strength and the strengthening from work hardening.  In its simplest form, the stress-strain curve from a uniaxial tensile test shows the work hardening of the chosen sheet metal. This approach ignores many of the realities occurring during forming of engineered parts, including bi-directional deformation.

Among the simpler descriptions of flow stress are those from Hollomon, Swift, and Ludvik.  More complex hardening laws are associated with Voce and Hockett-Sherby. 

The strain path followed by the sheet metal influences the hardening. Approaches taken in the Yoshida-Uemori (YU) and the Homogeneous Anisotropic Hardening (HAH) models extend these hardening laws to account for Bauschinger Effect deformations (the bending-unbending associated with travel over beads, radii, and draw walls).

As with the yield criteria, accuracy improves when accounting for three-dimensional metal flow, temperature, and forming speed, and using experimentally determined input parameters for the metal in question rather than generic textbook values. 

 

Failure Conditions

Defining the failure conditions is the other significant challenge in metal forming simulation. Conventional Forming Limit Curves describe necking failure under certain forming modes, and are easier to understand and apply than alternatives. Complexity and accuracy increase when accounting for non-linear strain paths using stress-based Forming Limit Curves.  Necking failure is not the only type of failure mode encountered. Conventional FLCs cannot predict fracture on tight radii and cut edges, nor can they account for dimensional issues like springback.  For these, failure criteria definitions which are more mathematically complex are appropriate.

 

Constitutive Laws

Simple material models reduce the effort of testing, but may not be sufficiently accurate or do not apply to the spectrum of grades available today.

The yield surface constructed with Hill’48H-74 requires only data from three tensile tests. Models like Barlat-1989B-89, Barlet-2003B-90, Barlat-2005B-91,  BBC2005B-92, VegterV-26, and Vegter liteV-27 all require data from more detailed advanced tests, but simulation results incorporating these yield surfaces more closely match experimental results.

Use caution with the assumptions that go into the Material Card.  For example, the card may show the r-value in the rolling, diagonal, and transverse (0°, 45°, and 90°) orientations all the same (not realistic), or worse yet, all equal to 1. For high strength and advanced high strength steels, it is likely that at least one of the orientations will have an r-value below 1. In these cases assuming an r-value of 1 will lead to an underestimation of the thinning.  Furthermore, use of the Hill 1948 yield criterion is not recommended since the model assumptions do not apply to r-values of less than 1.

The Keeler equation for FLC0 K-71 requires only the n-value and thickness, but is based on a correlation established from grades and testing available no later than the early 1990s.

Predictive models for the yield surfaceA-96 and FLCsA-97 in cold stamping conditions were created to simplify the testing requirements while maintaining the accuracy and usefulness of these advanced models. These predictive equations have been validated against physical testing for mild steels, conventional high strength steels, advanced high strength steels, aluminum alloys, and stainless steel grades. 

Similarly, for hot stamping, predictive models based on conventional tensile testing have been developed and verified.A-94, D-48, A-98  Challenges here include that elongation and r-value both vary with temperature and testing speed.

On the Forming Limit Curve shown in Figure 1a, the uniaxial strain path, plane strain, biaxial, and balanced biaxial points are predicted from total elongation (A80) and r-value determined from tensile testing in the 0, 45 and 90° orientations with respect to rolling direction.A-94 Compared with the Keeler model, the Abspoel & Scholting model is better at predicting the FLC of DP800, noting the upper limiting strains found in the experiment match the FLC, as well as a more accurate representation of the slope on the LH side.  Both models appear sufficient for the conventional grade DC04 (similar to CR3).

Figure 1. a) FLC prediction locations. b) FLC comparison on drawing steel DC04 (CR3); c) FLC comparison on DP800.A-94

Figure 1. a) FLC prediction locations. b) FLC comparison on drawing steel DC04 (CR3); c) FLC comparison on DP800.A-94

 

Yield surface correlations use Tensile strength (Rm), uniform elongation (Ag) and r-value test data as inputs to predict the equi-biaxial, plane strain and shear points in three directions. Figure 2 compares biaxial yield strength predictions between Hill’48 and Vegter 2017, showing the improved correlation in the model developed almost 70 years later.

Figure 2. Comparison of measured biaxial yield strength with prediction from Hill’48 (red) and Vegter 2017 (yellow).A-94

Figure 2. Comparison of measured biaxial yield strength with prediction from Hill’48 (red) and Vegter 2017 (yellow).A-94

 

Figure 3 presents a comparison of the measured yield surfaces of DX54D+Z (galvanized CR3) and DP1000 with those predicted by Hill’48 and Vegter 2017, highlighting the improved accuracy found in Vegter 2017.

Figure 3. Comparison of measured yield surface with predictions from Hill’48 and Vegter 2017. a) DX54D+Z (galvanized CR3); b) DP1000.A-94

Figure 3. Comparison of measured yield surface with predictions from Hill’48 and Vegter 2017. a) DX54D+Z (galvanized CR3); b) DP1000.A-94

 

Material properties like elongation, r-value, the hardening curve, and forming limits are all likely both strain-rate and temperature dependent, meaning that a rate-dependent and temperature-dependent yield surface and forming limit curve are needed for more accurate representations of cold- and hot-stamping.

The initial implementation of the Vegter yield surface in forming simulation software packages showed satisfactory correlation with conventional stamping applications, but was sub-optimal in operations where stresses are found in the thickness direction such as coining, wall ironing and score forming processes in packaging and battery applications. In these cases, a non-convexity close to the equi-biaxial point of the yield locus was observed, likely due to extreme anisotropy or very low r-values.

Citation A-95 discusses methods for improved accuracy. DIC measurements offer improved r-value characterization over mechanical measurement approaches. Yield locus correlations at low and high plastic strain ratios were also improved. Shell elements used in the simulation of the yield surface in plane stress ignore the strains in the through-thickness direction. For the applications where thickness stresses play a role (like wall ironing, coining, score forming in packaging, and sharp radii in closures, solid or thick shell elements are required.  The yield surface was extended to the thickness direction to allow for improved characterization in these applications having significant stresses through the thickness. This extension may be deployed in forming simulation software as “Vegter 2017.1.”

 

Constitutive Laws and Their Influence on Forming Simulation Accuracy

Many simulation packages allow for an easy selection of constitutive laws, typically through a drop-down menu listing all the built-in choices. This ease potentially translates into applying inappropriate selections unless the simulation analyst has a fundamental understanding of the options, the inputs, and the data generation procedures.

Some examples:

  • The “Keeler Equation” for the estimation of FLC0 has many decades of evidence in being sufficiently accurate when applied to mild steels and conventional high strength steels. The simple inputs of n-value and thickness make this approach particularly attractive.  However, there is ample evidence that using this approach with most advanced high strength steels cannot yield a satisfactory representation of the Forming Limit Curve.
  • Even in cases where it is appropriate to use the Keeler Equation, a key input is the n-value or the strain hardening exponent. This value is calculated as the slope of the (natural logarithm of the true stress):(natural logarithm of the true strain curve). The strain range over which this calculation is made influences the generated n-value, which in turn impacts the calculated value for FLC0.
  • The strain history as measured by the strain path at each location greatly influences the Forming Limit. However, this concept has not gained widespread understanding and use by simulation analysts.
  • A common method to experimentally determine flow curves combines tensile testing results through uniform elongation with higher strain data obtained from biaxial bulge testing. Figure 4 shows a flow curve obtained in this manner for a bake hardenable steel with 220 MPa minimum yield strength.  Shown in Figure 5 is a comparison of the stress-strain response from multiple hardening laws associated with this data, all generated from the same fitting strain range between yield and tensile strength.  Data diverges after uniform elongation, leading to vastly different predictions. Note that the differences between models change depending on the metal grade and the input data, so it is not possible to say that one hardening law will always be more accurate than others.
Figure 1: Flow curves for a bake hardenable steel generated by combinng tensile testing with bulge testing L-20

Figure 4: Flow curves for a bake hardenable steel generated by combining tensile testing with bulge testing.L-20

 

Figure 2: The chosen hardening law leads to vastly different predictions of stress-strain responses L-20

Figure 5: The chosen hardening law leads to vastly different predictions of stress-strain responses.L-20

 

  • Analysts often treat Poisson’s Ratio and the Elastic Modulus as constants.  It is well known that the Bauschinger Effect leads to changes in the Elastic Modulus, and therefore impacts springback.  However, there are also significant effects in both Poisson’s Ratio (Figure 6) and the Elastic Modulus (Figure 7) as a function of orientation relative to the rolling direction. Complicating matters is that this effect changes based on the selected metal grade.  
Figure 3:  Poisson’s Ratio as a Function of Orientation for Several Grades (Drawing Steel, DP 590, DP 780, DP 1180, and MS 1700) D-11

Figure 6:  Poisson’s Ratio as a Function of Orientation for Several Grades (Drawing Steel, DP 590, DP 980, DP 1180, and MS 1700) D-11

 

Figure 4:  Modulus of Elasticity as a Function of Orientation for Several Grades (Drawing Steel, DP 590, DP 780, DP 1180, and MS 1700) D-11

Figure 7:  Modulus of Elasticity as a Function of Orientation for Several Grades (Drawing Steel, DP 590, DP 980, DP 1180, and MS 1700) D-11

 

Testing to Determine Inputs for Simulation

Complete material card development requires results from many tests, each attempting to replicate one or more aspects of metal flow and failure. Certain models require data from only some of these tests, and no one model typically is best for all metals and forming conditions.  Tests described below include:

  • Tensile testing [room temperature at slow strain rates to elevated temperature with accelerated strain rates]
  • Biaxial bulge testing
  • Biaxial tensile testing
  • Shear testing
  • V-bending testing
  • Tension-compression testing with cyclic loading
  • Friction

Tensile testing is the easiest and most widely available mechanical property evaluation required to generate useful data for metal forming simulation. However, a tensile test provides a complete characterization of material flow only when the engineered part looks like a dogbone and all deformation resulted from pulling the sample in tension from the ends. That is obviously not realistic. Getting tensile test results in more than just the rolling direction helps, but generating those still involves pulling the sample in tension.  Three-dimensional metal flow occurs, and the stress-strain response of the sheet metal changes accordingly.  

The uniaxial tensile test generates a draw deformation strain state since the edges are free to contract.  A plane strain tensile test requires using a modified sample geometry with an increased width and decreased gauge length, 

Forming all steels involves a thermal component, either resulting from friction and deformation during “room temperature” forming or the intentional addition of heat such as used in press hardening. In either case, modeling the response to temperature requires data from tests occurring at the temperature of interest, at appropriate forming speeds.  Thermo-mechanical simulators like Gleeble™ generate such data.

Conventional tensile testing occurs at deformation rates of 0.001/sec. Most production stamping occurs at 10,000x that amount, or 10/sec. Crash events can be 2 orders of magnitude faster, at about 1000/sec.  The stress-strain response varies by both testing speed and grade. Therefore, accurate simulation models require data from higher-speed tensile testing. Typically, generating high speed tensile data involves drop towers or Split Hopkinson Pressure Bars.

A pure uniaxial stress state exists in a tensile test only until reaching uniform elongation and the beginning of necking.  Extrapolating uniaxial tensile data beyond uniform elongation risks introducing inaccuracies in metal flow simulations. Biaxial bulge testing generates the data for yield curve extrapolation beyond uniform elongation. This stretch-forming process deforms the sheet sample into a dome shape using hydraulic pressure, typically exerted by water-based fluids.  Citation I-12 describes a standard test procedure for biaxial bulge testing.

A Marciniak test used to create Forming Limit Curves generates in-plane biaxial strains.  Whereas FLC generation uses 100 mm diameter samples, larger samples allow for extraction of full-size tensile bars.  Although this approach generates samples containing biaxial strains, the extracted samples are tested uniaxially in the conventional manner.

Biaxial tensile testing allows for the determination of the yield locus and the biaxial anisotropy coefficient, which describes the slope of the yield surface at the equi-biaxial stress state. This test uses cruciform-shaped test pieces with parallel slits cut into each arm. Citation I-13 describes a standard test procedure for biaxial tensile testing.  The biaxial anisotropy coefficient can also be determined using the disk compression testing as described in Citation T-21.

Shear testing characterizes the sheet metal in a shear loading condition. There is no consensus on the specimen type or testing method. However, the chosen testing set-up should avoid necking, buckling, and any influence of friction.

V-bending tests determine the strain to fracture under specific loading conditions. Achieving plane strain or plane stress loading requires use of a test sample with features promoting the targeted strain state. 

Tension-compression testing characterizes the Bauschinger Effect.  Multiple cycles of tension-compression loading captures cyclic hardening behavior and elastic modulus decay, both of which improve the accuracy of springback predictions. 

The Bauschinger effect leads to early re-yielding after loading reversal, and has been observed in loading-reverse loading testing.  The Yoshida-Uemori (YU) kinematic hardening model accurately captures the Bauschinger effect as well as other hardening behaviors of sheet metals during loading-reverse loading.Y-7, Y-8

Characteristics of the Bauschinger Effect (Figure 8) include a) the transient Bauschinger deformation characterized by early re-yielding and smooth elastic–plastic transition with a rapid change of the work hardening rate; b) the permanent softening characterized by a stress offset observed in a region after the transient period; and c) work-hardening stagnation appearing at a certain range of reverse deformation.Y-7

Figure 5: Characteristics of the Bauschinger Effect during cyclic loading. Y-7

Figure 8: Characteristics of the Bauschinger Effect during cyclic loading.Y-7

 

Citation L-78 describes an approach to calibrate the YU model on a QP1500 steel that uses a combination of physical testing and machine learning to achieve loading-reverse loading stress-strain curves over broader strain ranges.  This citation also reported that the results from tension-compression testing were not the same as those from compression-tension testing – meaning that the order of deformation influences the results.

However, no standard procedure exists for determining the kinematic hardening and Bauschinger parameters and subsequently incorporating it into metal forming simulation codes. Independent of the procedure, one of the biggest challenges with this test is preventing buckling from occurring during in-plane compressive loading. Related to this is the need to compensate for the friction caused by the anti-buckling mechanism in the stress-strain curves.

Friction is obviously a key factor in how metal flows.  However, there is no one simple value of friction that applies to all surfaces, lubricants, and tooling profiles. The coefficient of friction not only varies from point to point on each stamping but changes during the forming process. Determining the coefficient of friction experimentally is a function of the testing approach used. The method by which analysts incorporate friction into simulations influences the accuracy and applicability of the results of the generated model.

Studies are underway to reduce the costs and challenges of obtaining much of this data. It may be possible, for example, to use Digital Image Correlation (DIC) during a simple uniaxial tensile testing to quantify r-value at high strains, determine the material hardening behavior along with strain rate sensitivity, assess the degradation of Young’s Modulus during unloading, and use the detection of the onset of local neck to help account for non-linear strain path effects.S-110

 

Application of Advanced Testing to Failure Predictions

Global formability failures occur when the forming strains exceed the necking forming limit throughout the entire thickness of the sheet. Advanced steels are at risk of local formability failures where the forming strains exceed the fracture forming limit at any portion of the thickness of the sheet.

Fracture forming limit curves plot higher than the conventional necking forming limit curves on a graph showing major strain on the vertical axis and minor strain on the horizontal axis.  In conventional steels the gap between the fracture FLC and necking FLC is relatively large, so the part failure is almost always necking.  The forming strains are not high enough to reach the fracture FLC.

In contrast, AHSS grades are characterized by a smaller gap between the necking FLC and the fracture FLC.  Depending on the forming history, part geometry (tight radii), and blank processing (cut edge quality), forming strains may exceed the fracture FLC at an edge or bend before exceeding the necking FLC through-thickness.  In this scenario, the part will fracture without signs of localized necking.

A multi-year study funded by the American Iron and Steel Institute at the University of Waterloo Forming and Crash Lab describes a methodology used for forming and fracture characterization of advanced high strength steels, the details of which can be found in Citations B-11, W-20, B-12, B-13, R-5, N-13 and G-19.

This collection of studies, as well as work coming out of these studies, show that relatively few tests sufficiently characterize forming and fracture of AHSS grades.  These studies considered two 3rd Gen Steels, one with 980MPa tensile strength and one with 1180MPa tensile.

  • The yield surface as generated with the Barlat YLD2000-2d yield surface (Figure 9) comes from:
    • Conventional tensile testing at 0, 22.5, 45, 67.5, and 90 degrees to the rolling direction, determining the yield strength and the r-value;
    • Disc compression tests according to the procedure in Citation T-21 to determine the biaxial R-value, rb.
Figure 5: Tensile testing and disc compression testing generate the Barlat YLD2000-2d yield surface in two 3rd Generation AHSS Grades B-13

Figure 9: Tensile testing and disc compression testing generate the Barlat YLD2000-2d yield surface in two 3rd Generation AHSS Grades B-13

 

  • Creating the hardening curve uses a procedure detailed in Citations R-5 and N-13, and involves only conventional tensile and shear testing using the procedure included in Citation P-15.
Figure 6: Test geometries for hardening curve generation. Left image: Tensile; Right image: Shear.  N-13

Figure 10: Test geometries for hardening curve generation. Left image: Tensile; Right image: Shear.N-13

 

  • Characterizing formability involved generating a Forming Limit Curve using Marciniak data or process-corrected Nakazima data. (See our article on non-linear strain paths) and Citation N-13 for explanation of process corrections].  Either approach resulted in acceptable characterizations.
  • Fracture characterization uses four plane stress tests: shear, conical hole expansion, V-bending, and a biaxial dome test.  The result from these tests calibrate the fracture locus describing the stress states at fracture.

 

A different approach requires only the results from conventional tensile testing and a crack growth test under simple loading to simulate post-necking strain hardening behavior and ductile fracture.  The details of this approach are beyond the scope of this webpage, but are presented in detail in Citations S-124 and T-56, in addition to verification procedures.

 

Simulation Set-Up Parameters

One of the most basic choices when starting a simulation run is the setting related to the mesh size. Reduced processing time is associated with large mesh sizes, but that risks not having sufficiently fine mesh resolution to capture the forming strain gradient.  A large mesh size averages the strains over a larger region, which is analogous to a tensile bar with an 80 mm gauge length having lower elongation than a 50 mm tensile bar cut from the same sheet steel.

Figure 11 compares the Forming Limit Curve (FLC) for an 1180 MPa steel determined from gauge lengths of 2, 6, and 10 mm, along with the associated theoretical predictions. As expected, the smaller gauge length is able to more effectively capture peak strains, and is therefore associated with a higher forming limit.A-90

Figure 7: Comparison of predicted values and experimental values of the Forming Limit Curve of an 1180 MPa steel. A-90

Figure 11: Comparison of predicted values and experimental values of the Forming Limit Curve of an 1180 MPa steel.A-90

 

The stress-strain curve of a 1.6 mm 980 MPa steel tested with a 50 mm gauge length (ISO III, JIS) was captured, resulting in a strain at fracture of 0.147. A model based on a 2 mm element size was created, calibrated to the same strain at fracture of 0.147.  The model was re-run with element sizes of 3 mm and 5 mm, which resulted in different stress strain curves and simulations that could not predict the fracture known to occur, Figure 12. This study also showed a technique that can be used to achieve similar performance nearly independent of mesh size, such that accuracy is not compromised when optimizing computer processing speed. A-90

Figure 8: Comparison of the tensile test result and fracture model predictions based on different element sizes. A-90

Figure 12: Comparison of the tensile test result and fracture model predictions based on different element sizes.A-90

 

Constitutive Models

Constitutive models for steel strengthening fall into two general categories:  power law behavior like HollomonH-71 and SwiftS-119 or saturation models like Voce and Hockett-Sherby.H-72  As shown in Figure 2 above, the chosen constitutive model significantly influences the extrapolation of experimental stress-strain curves to larger strain values. Model combinations such as Swift-Voce or Swift/Hockett-Sherby, typically using one for lower strains and the other for higher strains, typically provide better fit with experimental dataK-65, but more parameters are usually beneficial, especially for advanced high strength steels where the n-value is not constant with strain.

To improve the modeling accuracy of high strength steels with variable instantaneous nvalue, hardening curves obtained with uniaxial tensile and hydraulic bulge tests were fit to a new proposed modelL-73 to verify its predictive capability and accuracy. This new model, based on the Swift power law (Equation 1), addresses the decrease in n-value at larger plastic strains by varying what has been termed as the strain hardening attenuation coefficient a, within a new parameter λh as defined in Equation 2.

Equation 1
Equation 1
Equation 2 in Sim
Equation 2

 
When a=0, Equation 1 reverts to the standard Swift equation. When a>0, it allows for Equation 1 to correct for the decrease of instantaneous n value occurring at larger plastic strains.  The results in Figure 133 show that the predictive accuracy of the new model is better than the individual Swift or Hockett-Sherby models.

Figure 7: Hardening Curve for two grades showing Uniaxial Tensile (ut) stress-strain curves, biaxial tensile extension from biaxial bulge testing (bt), Swift and Hockett-Sherby model fit, and new model fit with different a parameter. L-73

Figure 13: Hardening Curve for two grades showing Uniaxial Tensile (ut) stress-strain curves, biaxial tensile extension from biaxial bulge testing (bt), Swift and Hockett-Sherby model fit, and new model fit with different a parameter.L-73

 

Experimental hardening data for a QP grade, referred to as QP1180-EL, was obtained from uniaxial tensile testing combined with bulge testing and in-plane torsion testing for strains beyond uniform elongation.  These are shown as squares and black or red circles in Figure 14, along with projections from the Swift and Hockett-Sherby models.  The Modified Power Law (MPL) achieves the best fit to the tested results.Z-18

Figure 8: Experimental results compared with the Swift power law hardening model, Hockett-Sherby saturation hardening model, and a newly developed Modified Power Law.Z-18

Figure 14: Experimental results compared with the Swift power law hardening model, Hockett-Sherby saturation hardening model, and a newly developed Modified Power Law.Z-18

 

Improved vehicle crashworthiness predictions occur when the forming history of the critical structural parts, including the effects of bake hardening, work hardening, and thickness reduction, are incorporated into vehicle virtual development models. Historically, simulations did not contemplate the initial damage caused by plastic deformation.  Accumulated damage can be captured within a GISSMO (Generalized Incremental Stress State Dependent Model) damage model, albeit with certain assumptions.N-30, N-31

Five different loading cases capturing the stress state of shear, uniaxial tension, stretching, plane strain and equi-biaxial stretching can be used to calibrate parameters of the Modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) B-83 fracture model. Schematics of these five individual tests are shown in Figure 15.H-73   The calibrated MMC model and loading path results from these tests are shown in Figure 16.  The MMC model was subsequently used to calibrate a GISSMO damage model.

Figure 9: Tests coupons for fracture model calibration. H-73

Figure 15: Tests coupons for fracture model calibration.H-73

 

Figure 10. Calibrated MMC fracture model and loading path results from the tests shown in Figure 9. H-73

Figure 16. Calibrated MMC fracture model and loading path results from the tests shown in Figure 10.H-73

 

Quasi-static three-point quasi-static bending tests were used to validate the MPL hardening model, the MMC fracture model, and the GISSMO damage model.   An FEA model with a 2 mm mesh size was compared with one having a 5 mm mesh size for the simulation of the bending process. Figure 17 shows the predicted fracture location and test result.

Local necking was observed during the experimental bending test and 2 elements failed in when using a 2 mm mesh size, yet no failure was observed when using a 5 mm mesh. This indicates that accurate simulation results may require refined mesh sizes.

Figure 11: Experiment and simulation results of three-point bending testing of a Quenched & Partitioned 1180 MPa Steel H-73

Figure 17: Experiment and simulation results of three-point bending testing of a Quenched & Partitioned 1180 MPa Steel.H-73

 

A subsequent studyZ-18 confirmed that ignoring the stamping forming history in the damage model results in a lower prediction of the failure risk, especially for cold stamping high-strength steel parts under large deformation conditions.
 

Case Studies: Benefits of using Advanced Models for Springback Prediction

The output of simulations using material models that thoroughly capture the changes in metal properties occurring during forming are more likely to match reality than those simulations based on basic models.

Kinematic hardening models where the Bauschinger effect and modulus degradation are captured have been shown to be substantially more accurate in springback prediction than isotropic hardening models based on more conventional tensile testing.

Citation S-130 investigated this difference.  Different types of steels having 980 MPa or 1180 MPa minimum specified tensile strength from multiple suppliers were used to form a targeted part shape using either a draw forming process or a crash forming process. The formed panels were scanned and compared with simulation results from multiple software packages. In all cases, the simulation was capable of accurately predicting strains and the risk of necking failure. 

For springback, the type of hardening model used in the simulation appeared to correlate with prediction ability. Table 2 compares the dimensional difference between the model and a scan of the physical panel, with smaller numbers representing an improved ability to predict springback in the evaluated condition. As indicated in Table 2, models incorporating Kinematic Hardening more closely matched the actual springback seen on the scanned panels. 

Table 2: Dimensional Deviation Between Simulation and Scan as a Function of Hardening Model.S-130

Maximum Sectional Deviation
During Draw Forming (mm)
Maximum Sectional Deviation
During Crash Forming (mm)
Hardening Model
5.38 5.54 Isotropic Hardening
5.25 2.27 Yoshida
5.01 10.2 Isotropic Hardening
4.2 2.422 Hill ’48 Isotropic Hardening
4.17 3.127 Hill ’48 Isotropic Hardening
3.14 2.8 Yoshida
3.12 5.3 Yoshida
2.65 N/A Yoshida
2.3 4.2 Yoshida-Uemori
2.17 7.39 Yoshida
1.98 1.64 Yoshida-Uemori
1.797 1.952 Yoshida
1.5 2.3 Yoshida
Results compiled across multiple types of simulation software,
compared with formed parts made from different types of 980 and 1180 grades from multiple suppliers.

 

A modified S-shape generic panel was used to evaluate springback using a 3rd Generation Steel having a minimum specified tensile strength of 980MPa.B-98  Nearly 200 points were evaluated on the panel shown in Figure 18.  For the simulation that did not incorporate kinematic hardening, 48% of this panel were within 1 mm of the physical scanned part and 32% were within 0.5 mm.  When the simulation incorporated kinematic hardening, 94% of the points were within 1 mm and 60% were within 0.5 mm.

Figure 18: Modified S-Shape used to evaluate springback on 3rd Gen 980 MPa steel in Citation B-98.

Figure 18: Modified S-Shape used to evaluate springback on 3rd Gen 980 MPa steel in Citation B-98.

 

A generic B-pillar panel was used to evaluate springback using a 3rd Generation Steel having a minimum specified tensile strength of 1180MPa.K-72  

For the simulation that did not incorporate kinematic hardening, 59.9% of this panel were within 1 mm of the physical scanned part.  When the simulation incorporated kinematic hardening, 68.9% of the points were within 1 mm.  Simulation results are presented in Figure 19.

Figure 19: Springback results on a B-pillar formed from 3rd Gen 1180 MPa steel.K-72 https://ahssinsights.org/citations/k-72/

Figure 19: Springback results on a B-pillar formed from 3rd Gen 1180 MPa steel.K-72 

 

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Forming and Formability of AHSS

Forming and Formability of AHSS

Introduction

Approaches for forming higher strength steels evolved with the commercialization of increased strength levels of High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steels.  Demands for greater crash performance while simultaneously reducing mass and cost have spawned the development of new groups of steels that improve on the properties of these HSLA steels. Forming of Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) is not a radical change from forming conventional HSLA steels, providing some of the key differences are understood and accounted for in die design, die process, and equipment selection.

AHSS grades solve two distinct automotive needs by two different groups of steels. The first group as a class has higher strength levels with improved formability and crash-energy absorption compared to HSLA grades. DP, TRIP, FB, and TWIP steels, which have increased values of the work hardening exponent (n-value), fulfill this requirement. The second group, including CP and MS steels, extends the availability of steel in strength ranges above what is available with HSLA grades.  Originally targeted for chassis, suspension, and body-in-white components, AHSS grades are now being applied to doors and other body panels. New variations in microstructure help meet specific process requirements, including increased edge stretch, bendability, strengthening after forming, or tighter property tolerances.

The progressive increases in yield and tensile strength with these new AHSS grades magnifies existing forming issues with conventional HSLA grades and creates new challenges. Concerns include higher loads on processing equipment including presses, levelers, straighteners, blanking lines, coil slitting lines and roll forming equipment. Additionally, there are material and surface treatment considerations required for tooling in the stamping plants: draw dies, trim steels, and flange steels. Compared to conventional HSLA steels, greater energy requirements result from higher AHSS yield strengths, tensile strengths and significantly higher work hardening rates. This places new requirements on press capacity, leveler, straightener and slitting capabilities, tool construction/protection, lubricant capabilities, part and process design, and maintenance. Springback management becomes more critical as yield strengths continue to increase. Conventional and press hardened (hot formed) AHSS parts have very high strength after forming, so re- forming operations should be avoided. Trimming, cutting, and piercing equipment must be constructed and maintained to overcome the extreme high strength of the final stamping. Laser cutting of press hardened parts produces a finished part that avoids pushing the limits of trim and pierce tools and dies utilized for conventional HSLA steel.

There are an ever-increasing number of AHSS multiphase microstructure grades available, each designed to resist various forming failure modes while achieving final part performance requirements. Sharing of information regarding the planned part geometry, die and stamping processing, and final part application between steel suppliers, product and die process engineering, and end users helps ensure selection of the right steel grade for the application. This becomes especially relevant since multiphase microstructures experience additional forming failure modes compared with conventional high strength products.

 

Tool Design Considerations

The characteristics associated with different AHSS grades influence die design and die processing decisions. Not only are these steels typically higher in strength, but they also undergo substantial work hardening during forming. These lead to increased local loads, and changes in friction, die wear, and press requirements.  The multiphase microstructures increase cut edge and bending fracture sensitivity.  As such, extending the life and performance of tooling in press shops requires a rethinking of tool and part design.

Part Design

Successful application of any material requires close coordination of part design and the manufacturing process. Consult product and manufacturing process engineers when designing AHSS parts to understand both the limitations and advantages of the grade and the proper forming process to be employed. Start in the concept and feasibility stage to ensure sufficient time for corrective actions and optimization.

Soft tool materials like kirksite may be used for manufacturing prototype parts and the inserts used to eliminate local wrinkles or buckles. However, wear resistant coatings are typically not applied to these tool surfaces, so the metal flow seen in these prototype parts may not match the metal flow seen under production conditions. The results from soft tool tryouts should not be used to assess manufacturability and springback of AHSS parts.

Design structural frames (such as rails, sills, cross members, and roof bows) as open-ended channels to permit forming operations rather than draw die processes. AHSS stampings requiring closed-end draw operations are limited by a reduced depth of draw, Figure 1. Less complex, open-ended stamped channels are less limited in depth. A rule of thumb is that DP 350Y600T can be formed to only half the draw depth of a mild steel.

Figure 1: Schematic of an opened ended part design (left) and a closed ended part design (right). The open-ended design allows for greater depths when utilizing AHSS versus the closed ended design historically used with mild steel.A-5

Figure 1: Schematic of an open end part design (left) and a closed end part design (right). The open-ended design allows for greater depths when utilizing AHSS versus the closed ended design historically used with mild steel.A-5

 

Where possible, avoid closed-end developments to make more complex geometries with AHSS grades. Wrapping ends of “hat” sections increases forming loads, increases the chances of circumferential compression wrinkling on the binder, specifically in the corners, and increases wrinkling on the draw wall if the blank edge runs through the draw bead. Draw die developments that include a closed (or wrapped) end development usually also require a larger blank size. During draw die development, it is best to identify parts that have a “hat” section geometry in certain locations and develop the draw die accordingly to maximize the positive formability attributes of AHSS while minimizing the limitations of AHSS.

For example, the left image in Figure 2 shows a draw die development on a DP600 cowl side with a closed (wrapped) end, with the right image showing a similar part developed with an open end. Although both final part geometries are similar, the closed-end development led to significant global formability failures due to the excessive stretch. In contrast, the open-ended development had virtually no global formability related failures. Other design and die development differences in the part on the right include the use of stake beads to control springback and embossments to eliminate wavy metal. In addition, an open-ended development has the potential to reduce the blank size for material utilization savings.

Figure 2: Draw die development for a cowl side formed from DP600.  Left image: closed-end development with global formability failures, waviness, and springback.  Right image: open-ended development with no splits, waves, or dimensional concerns.U-6

Figure 2: Draw die development for a cowl side formed from DP600.  Left image: closed-end development with global formability failures, waviness, and springback.  Right image: open-ended development with no splits, waves, or dimensional concerns.U-6

 

The automotive industry has adopted a strategy for “lighter dies and fewer dies”, to reduce cost. One key element is “part consolidation”, such as one-piece body side outers and inners. High strength steels challenge the part consolidation mantra. When encountering extreme formability challenges, parts previously made with one set of dies when stamped from lower strength steels may benefit from transitioning to a laser welded blank with a lower strength grade in the challenging region and higher strength steels in the remainder of the part. Alternatively, splitting the consolidated part into two or more separate parts subsequently welded together may improve stamping success at the expense of another operation.  In the past, one-piece rocker panels were stamped from conventional mild or HSLA steel. However, this component requires higher strength and reduced thickness to meet weight and crash requirements, so now DP980 is often considered as the grade of choice for this application. Figure 3 shows a rocker panel where insufficient formability of DP980 prevented a one-piece stamping.  The OEM solved this by dividing the part into two stampings, putting a more formable grade where needed on the wrapped (or closed) end.

Figure 3:  When a one-piece rocker panel could not be successfully formed from DP980, the OEM stamped a DP980 rocker panel section with an open-ended design and spot welded it to a mild steel end cap.U-6.

Figure 3:  When a one-piece rocker panel could not be successfully formed from DP980, the OEM stamped a DP980 rocker panel section with an open-ended design and spot welded it to a mild steel end cap.U-6

 

Trim and Pierce Tool Design

  • Trim and pierce tools need to withstand higher loads since AHSS grades have higher tensile strengths than conventional high-strength steels.
  • Edge cracking is minimized with proper support of the trim stock during trimming.
  • Modify timing of the trim/pierce operation to minimize snap-through reverse loading.
  • Scrap shedding may be an issue, since AHSS springback can cause scrap to stick in the tool.

 

Flange Design

  • Design more formable flanges to reduce need for extra re-strike operations.
  • Areas to be flanged should have a “break-line” or initial bend radius drawn in the first die to reduce springback.
  • Adapt die radii for material strength and blank thickness.

 

Draw Bead Design

  • Metal flow across draw beads generates strain and minimizes the elastic recovery which causes springback.
  • Metal flow across draw beads generates large amounts of work hardening, leading to increased press loads.
  • Optimizing blank size and shape reduces the reliance on draw beads, which can excessively work harden the material before entering the die opening.

 

Guidelines to Avoid Edge Cracking During Stretch Flanging

  • Flange length transition should be gradual – abrupt changes in flange length cause local stress raisers leading to edge cracks.
  • Use good cutting practices to achieve a high-quality edge.
  • Avoid the use of sharp notch features in curved flanges.
  • Avoid putting bypass notches in stretch or compression edges of blanks or progressive die carrier strips. These bypass notches can act as stress risers and lead to edge fractures in the draw or flange operation. In addition, bypass notches in blanks and progressive dies are difficult to maintain, which can increase the potential for edge fracture.
  • Metal gainers in the draw die or in the die prior to the stretch flange operation compensates for change in length of line that occurs during flanging, helping to avoid edge cracking. In the example shown in Figure 4, edge fractures moved from the draw panel to flanged panel after grinding on the draw die to eliminate edge fractures in the draw operation. The draw panel underneath the flanged part in Figure 4 did not have edge fractures. The reduction in the length of line in the draw operation moved the problem to the flanged part where the stamping transitioned from bending and straightening in the flange operation to a stretch flange operation.  A better practice is to add metal gainers to the draw panel to provide the feedstock which expands during stretch flanging.
Figure 4: Flanged panel fractures, with the draw panel underneath.  Adding metal gainers to the draw panel would help minimize these fractures.U-6

Figure 4: Flanged panel fractures, with the draw panel underneath.  Adding metal gainers to the draw panel would help minimize these fractures.U-6

 

  • The higher strength of AHSS makes it more difficult to pull out loose metal or achieve a minimum stretch in flat sections of stampings. Addendum, metal gainers (Figures 5 and 6), and other tool features balance lengths of line and locally increase stretch.
Figure 5: Metal gainers help avoid insufficient stretched areas and eliminate buckles.T-3

Figure 5: Metal gainers help avoid insufficient stretched areas and eliminate buckles.T-3

 

Figure 6:  Metal gainers and depressions balance stresses and minimizes wrinkled metal.A-41

Figure 6:  Metal gainers and depressions balance stresses and minimizes wrinkled metal.A-41

 

Formability

Formability is simply the ability of a sheet metal product to be formed into the desired shape reliably and repeatedly using the selected metal grade and stamping system parameters like the forming process, lubrication, die materials, and tool coatings.

Successful forming, especially with advanced materials, requires an understanding of key input variables and their interaction so that the stamping system parameters can be modified if necessary. 

This section provides an overview of how sheet metal flows and highlights issues more important and prevalent with Advanced High-Strength Steels.