Application of a modified finite element inverse approach in fast forming simulation for an automobile fender

In order to further enhance simulation precision of one-step forming finite element inverse approach, the four-node isoparametric membrane element was applied to it and the element warpage caused by the condition that the four nodes of special quadrilateral element may not be coplanar was modified. Computer codes were implemented to simulate an automobile fender. The simulation results from the improved method are very close to those of incremental simulation, while the computation consume is much less than that of the increment method, which proves the validity of the method proposed in this paper.