Effect of Initial Cross-Sectional Shape on Bent Shape in “Bending and Compression Method” for Forming In-Plane Bent Sheet Metal

This study investigates forming methods that enable high formability in forming in-plane bent parts using finite element analysis (FEA). In-plane bent parts are conventionally formed by in-plane bending of strip-metal. However, in in-plane bending, if the cross-sectional ratio is high and bend radius is small, irregular deformation is likely to occur. Authors have proposed “Bending and compression method (BCM)”, in which material is bent and compressed perpendicular to the bending plane. In this proposal method, it might be effective to use a non-circular cross-section of raw material for increasing the cross-sectional ratio and reducing the bend radius. If the cross-sectional shape is optimized, it is possible to achieve even higher cross-sectional ratio and smaller bend radius. Therefore, in this study, the effect of initial cross-sectional shape on formability was investigated in straight and bend material by FEA. This study clarified the effects of the initial cross-sectional shape and compression method on the cross-sectional area ratio and bend radius in “BCM”.