Formability and numerical simulation for as-quenched aluminum alloy sheet

The influence of heat treatment on formability of aluminum alloy sheet could not be ignored and the fact that formability of as-quenched aluminum alloy sheet is not well understood has obstructed the improvement of forming process and the application of numerical simulation. Based on the practical forming process of 2D12 aluminum alloy, some experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of pre-stretching before heat treatment and age hardening time on the behavior and formability of 2D12 aluminum alloy after pre-stretching and solution heat treatment. The experiments indicate that as-quenched aluminum alloy sheet has good formability and the formability is worsened with the increase of pre-stretching and age hardening time. Based on the experiment, numerical simulation of sheet metal forming for as-quenched and annealed aluminum alloy is conducted. The results indicate the sheet forming need greater force and energy in as-quenched condition than in annealed condition and there is more residual stress and spring back in as-quenched condition. With the increase of aging hardening time and pre-stretching, the forming force, spring back and reduction of thickness grows and the thickness uniformity becomes bad.