Investigation into the sheet metal forming process using solid granules medium with graphite powder addition

The solid granules medium sheet metal forming process uses loose particles instead of a rigid convex mold in the deep drawing process. This study focused on a mixed medium of solid granules with added graphite powder , establishing numerical models for four different proportions of graphite powder-solid granules mixtures. A finite element simulation of deep drawing was conducted using 08AL sheets. A deep drawing test shows that the thickness distribution curve closely aligns with the numerical simulation. By adding graphite powder to the solid granules medium, the lubrication conditions between the granules and the sheet metal can be modified, increasing the thickness in the fracture-prone areas of the cylindrical part. Utilizing this numerical model yields thickness distribution and deformation characteristics that closely resemble those observed in deep drawing tests, thereby contributing significantly to the optimization and advancement of this forming technology.