A study of the optimum blank for square cup drawing using the streamline method

This paper presents a theory superimposing material anisotropic property as a "sink" to the potential field concept. An efficient and easily complemented streamline method is then developed to predict the optimum blank of irregular prismatic cup drawing. From the optimum blank contours calculated by the streamline method for the square cup, it is shown that material anisotropy has a significant influence in the prediction of the optimum blank shape. As a verification of the theory, an experiment of square cup drawing was conducted, relating to the optimum blank in the experimental drawing process for a hat-cup head. The measured cup heights show good agreement with theoretical predictions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.