Assessment of steam forming performance of aluminum sheet metal based on experimental studies

This work presents an experimental study of aluminum sheet forming. It shows the performances of a steam hydroforming process. The new forming technique is based on both temperature and pressure to make a sheet form. These parameters are linked to the water vaporization process into a cavity covered by the blank. The performances are deduced by comparing the results obtained from the steam tests with those acquired at room temperature. Performances are expressed in terms of forming loads, surface creation, and forming limits. The experimental results show that the use of the steam temperature as a factor could decrease the limit loads necessary for the forming operation and increase the surface creation. On top of improving forming loads and surface creation, increasing steam temperature induces a clear improvement of forming limits.