Superplastic Sheet Forming Analysis by the Finite Element Method with Directional Reduced Integration

Abstract

Superplastic sheet forming process is accurately simulated by the finite element method with a directional reduced integration scheme. The scheme is a remedy to reduce the locking phenomenon due to bending and large rotation. An updated Lagrangian finite element formulation is associated with a contact algorithm and a pressure control algorithm to predict the optimum pressure cycle in blow forming. The numerical results lucidly demonstrate the validity of the present algorithm.