THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF NON-AXISYMMETRICAL DEEP DRAWING

E. Ceretti(1), C. Giardini(1), G. Maccarini(1) , A. Bugini(2) (1) University of Brescia Italy, (2) University of Bergamo, Italy

The present work is focused on the study of one of the most common sheet metal working processes: the deep drawing. As well known, it is used to make a wide variety of products such as gas bottle, cans, pots, automotive components and so on. Theoretical studies of this process are related to axisymmetrical bodies but for non axisymmetrical bodies the research is limited to very simple geometries and the process parameter optimization is achieved only through practice, operator experience or empirical formulas or diagrams.
The Authors have already compared, in previous works, experimental results of non axisymmetrical deep drawing with some theoretical models from literature finding a satisfactory agreement only in terms of drawing force. The aim of this work is to analyze the production of military mess tins by means of three-dimensional numerical models. In particular, an explicit Finite Element Code (PAMSTAMP(r)) is used to simulate the operation and to define the best working procedure under different process conditions.
The influence of lubricant, die and punch clearance, sheet metal thickness is investigated and the simulation results are compared with the experimental ones in terms of drawing force, deformations and part defects such as sheet breakage and earing.

Keywords: non axisymmetrical deep drawing, FEM, experimental results.