Formability of magnesium AZ31 sheet in the incremental forming at warm temperature

Abstract

In the present study, it was attempted to apply the incremental forming method to magnesium sheets at warm temperature in order to fully utilize the formability of the material. To assess the influence of temperature to the forming limit, plane-strain as well as axisym-metric stretching tests were performed at 20 degrees C, 100 degrees C, 150 degrees C, 200 degrees C and 250 degrees C. Cones with different inclination angles were designed based on the forming limits at these temperatures, and formed incrementally. FEM analysis was used to understand the deformation characteristics observed in the experiment. A circular cup with an inclination angle that exceeds the forming limit was successfully formed by introducing the concept of the progressive forming to the incremental forming. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.