Sheet forming of titanium alloys

Sheet metal forming process design can be optimized without costly trial-and-error procedures, by means of computer-implemented models which can predict both forming process strain distributions and the limit of material formability. Attention is given to material behavior models for Ti-6Al-4V, which illustrate the functional dependence of flow behavior and forming limits on process variables, and which were developed by using uniaxial tensile and load-relaxation data to determine strain hardening characteristics, strain rate sensitivity, and plastic anisotropy. Forming limit curves have been calculated with these models and compared with experimental forming limit diagrams available in the literature, yielding results which indicate that strain rate sensitivity is the most critical material formability index. 29 references