Applications of linear inverse finite element method in prediction of the optimum blank in sheet metal forming

A linear inverse finite element method has been developed and investigated to predict the optimum blank. To reduce the computation time, the part is unfolded properly on the flat sheet and treated as a 2D problem. This approach is employed primarily to design the optimum blank shape from the desired final shape with the linear formulations. The procedure is based on the minimization of energy for the unfolded elements. Two solution methods, Direct and Newton–Raphson methods have been examined for the solution of nodal displacements in the equilibrium equations. The convergence show high sensitivity to the initial guess for the strain path when assumed to be linear at the first step. Two applied examples are implemented to show the efficiency of this method. In S rail example, the thickness distributions have been compared with experimental analysis after obtaining the optimum blank with Linear IFEM. In circular cup example, the results have been compared with conventional forward incremental method. New calculation of the external forces vector has been displayed. In this calculation, both blank holder force (BHF) vector and in-plane force vector have been shown. Finally, in this approach good agreement was found between the forward incremental and Linear IFEM results.