SUMMARYFor rigid-plastic=rigid-viscoplastic (RP=RVP) FE simulation in metal forming processes, the linear programming (LP) approach has many remarkable advantages, compared with a normal iterative solver. This approach is free from convergence problems and is convenient for dealing with contact surfaces, rigid zones, and friction forces. In this paper, a numerical model for axisymmetrical and plane-strain analysis using RP=RVP and LP is proposed and applied to industrial metal forming. Numerical examples are provided to validate the accuracy and e ciency of the proposed method.