Blank optimization in sheet metal forming using an evolutionary algorithm

In this paper, the authors present a new numerical approach to optimize the shape of the initial blank, which plays an important role on the quality of the final 3D workpiece obtained by the deep drawing of thin sheets. This new approach is based on the coupling between the inverse approach used for the forming simulation and an evolutionary algorithm. The preliminary results dealing with the optimization of the blank contour in the case of a square cup (the Benchmark test of Numisheet’93) show the efficiency and the potential interest of the proposed approach.