3-D modelling of sheet metal shearing

In sheet metal cutting processes, like guillotining and slitting, the sheet is cut progressively from one end to the other. This means that these processes can be seen as three-dimensional stationary processes. A finite element model is developed for the calculation of the steady state of such processes. The Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian method is used, because this method is very suitable for stationary calculations with moving free surfaces. The position of the nodes on the surface is adapted every step using a limited Lax-Wendro� convection scheme. Results of a guillotining simulation are shown.