Improving hole edge stretchability of CR4 and DP590 steels through slide burnishing: an experimental and numerical study
摘要
This study evaluates slide burnishing as a surface mechanical treatment to enhance the stretchability of DP-590-Y advanced high-strength steel and CR4 mild steel. Hole expansion specimens were prepared using abrasive water-jet cutting to minimize edge-induced damage, and their formability was assessed through Hole Expansion Testing (HET) following ISO 16,630. Results show that burnishing modifies mechanical properties, increasing yield strength and uniform elongation while reducing planar anisotropy. A non-linear relationship between burnishing force and stretchability was observed, where optimal conditions (75 N for DP-590-Y and 60 N for CR4) improved the Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) up to 93.38% and 169.2%, respectively. Numerical simulations revealed that these improvements are associated with the homogenization of residual stress fields and stabilization of thickness reduction. Strain gradient analysis confirmed a more uniform deformation distribution, delaying strain localization and fracture initiation. These findings demonstrate that slide burnishing is an effective and scalable technique to improve edge stretchability in sheet metal forming applications.