Experimental and numerical investigation of electromagnetic bulging of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V at room temperature

Abstract

In this article, electromagnetic bulging of high-strength, low-conductivity Ti-6Al-4V using a T3 copper driver plate at room temperature was described. The investigation was conducted employing numerical simulation method. Numerical prediction of the deformation contour and thickness distribution were closely correlated with the experimental results. The distribution of electromagnetic force on the driver plate and impact force between the driver plate and the workpiece varying with time was obtained. Besides, deformation velocity distribution and strain rate on the workpiece were determined by analyzing the deformation process. Energy efficiency of the process was determined to be 1.34%. Distribution of total electromagnetic force over time is characteristic of a sine-squared attenuation function. Velocity of the second impact near the center zone is 229.36 m/s with a corresponding impact pressure of 3.42 GPa. The results of this investigation are significant in the design of an improved process of electromagnetic forming of Ti-6Al-4V and other low-conductivity metals.

Effect of the Radial Dimension of the Driver Sheet on the Electromagnetic Driven Forming

“…Some efforts to improve and optimize the performance of the electromagnetic driven forming were also made. Li et al used Cu-T3 copper and AA5052 aluminum alloy as driver plates to shape TC4 titanium alloy, analyzed the forming process and results, and proved that the driver plate could improve the forming limit of TC4 by about 24.37% [6][7]. They proposed that the thicker driver generated larger electromagnetic force when the thickness of the driver plate was less than the skin depth [8].…”

Application of a GTN Damage Model Predicting the Fracture of 5052-O Aluminum Alloy High-Speed Electromagnetic Impaction

“…It is important to characterize the strain rate sensitivity of any material that will be used in a structure that can undergo high rate deformation (e.g., automobile crashes) as well as during the high-velocity forming processes (e.g., electromagnetic forming or electrohydraulic forming). Electromagnetic forming [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] is a powerful and high-speed forming technique wherein a strain rate of 10 3 /s is achieved. It can promote significant increases in strain, causing failure flow-ductility materials and reducing spring-back and wrinkling.…”