Coupling effects of material properties and the bending angle on the springback angle of a titanium alloy tube during numerically controlled bending

Abstract The significant springback after the numerically controlled (NC) bending of a titanium alloy tube has an important influence on the precision of the shape and size of the bent tube. This springback depends on the material properties of the tube, the bending angle, and especially their coupling effects. The influence of some material properties and the bending angle on the springback angle in the NC bending of a TA18 tube were investigated using a three-dimensional (3D) elastic–plastic finite element model. Using multivariate and stepwise analyses, the coupling effects of the bending angle and the material properties on the springback angle during NC bending were revealed. It was observed that Young’s modulus, yield stress, the strain hardening coefficient and exponent, and the thickness anisotropy exponent, as well as interactions of these parameters with the bending angle, have a significant influence on the springback angle. The bending angle, yield stress, and hardening coefficient have positive effects on the springback angle, and Young’s modulus, the hardening exponent, and the thickness anisotropy exponent have negative effects. The influence of the material properties of the titanium alloy increases with the bending angle. Young’s modulus and the strain hardening coefficient and exponent have the greatest influence on the springback angle. The results will be very useful in predicting, compensating for and controlling the springback of titanium alloy tubes during NC bending.