The effects of forming history on sheet metal assembly

In this study a simulation-based sensitivity study is performed in order to investigate the influence of the forming history on the properties of an assembly. In the study the assembly properties are predicted by sequentially simulating the manufacturing process chain of a sheet metal assembly. Several simulations of the assembly stage are performed in which different combinations of forming histories are transferred from the forming stage. It is found that the forming history affects the properties of the assembly and that the residual stress state is the most influential history variable. This demonstrates the importance of utilising the complete final mechanical state of each manufacturing step as the initial condition for the subsequent step in the manufacturing process chain in order to achieve accurate predictions of the assembly properties. Furthermore, if more reliable predictions can be made concerning the manufacturability of a product and its in-service behaviour, more design alternatives can be evaluated during product development while a considerably smaller number of physical prototypes are needed.