Hydrodynamic deep drawing process assisted by radial pressure with inward flowing liquid

A radial pressure can reduce drawing force and increase drawing ratio in hydrodynamic deep drawing. However, conventional hydrodynamic deep drawing cannot attain a radial pressure higher than the pressure in the die cavity. In this research, a modified method, named hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure with inward flowing liquid, was proposed and investigated using both primarily experimental and numerical simulation analysis. A radial pressure higher than the pressure in the die cavity was realized by means of the inward flowing of the liquid during this process. After preliminary experimental validation, FEM was used to explore the forming process. The results from the simulation were compared with those from the experiment. The effects of the radial pressure on the wall thickness distribution, punch force, and compressive stress in the blank flange were studied with assistance of numerical simulation. The process window for radial pressures versus drawing ratios was established in 2Al2O alloy experimentally and cups with drawing ratio of 2.85 were successfully formed.