Automatic mesh adaptation in the simulation of forming processes, based on the use of the arbitrary-Eulerian-Lagrangian formulation

The finite element method is frequently used to simulate forming processes for the purpose of predicting the quality of the final product and the load on the tool. If the method is based on either the Eulerian or the Lagrangian formulation, some simulations are arduous or even impossible. To avoid this the arbitrary-Eulerian-Lagrangian (AEL) formulation can be used. This formulation offers a good starting point for automatic mesh adaptation procedures. In this paper such a procedure is described and employed in the simulation of some axisymmetric forming processes