Application of explicit FE codes to simulation of sheet and bulk metal forming processes

Abstract This paper presents the application of an explicit dynamic finite element code for simulation of metal forming processes, of both sheet and bulk forming. The experiences reported here have been gained during the development and use of our own explicit program Stampack. An original formulation of a triangular shell element without rotational degrees of freedom is reviewed combining the explicit sheet forming simulation with the implicit springback analysis as well as the parallelization of the explicit program described. An extension of a finite element code for coupled thermomechanical analysis is discussed. A new thermomechanical constitutive model developed by the authors and implemented in the program is presented. Numerical examples illustrate some of the possibilities of the finite element code developed.