Prediction of Necking in Tubular Hydroforming Using an Extended Stress-Based Forming Limit Curve

This paper presents an extended stress-based forming limit curve (XSFLC) that can be used to predict the onset of necking in sheet metal loaded under non-proportional load paths, as well as under three-dimensional stress states. The conventional strain-based $ϵ$FLC is transformed into the stress-based FLC advanced by Stoughton (1999, Int. J. Mech. Sci., 42, pp. 1–27). This, in turn, is converted into the XSFLC, which is characterized by the two invariants, mean stress and equivalent stress. Assuming that the stress states at the onset of necking under plane stress loading are equivalent to those under three-dimensional loading, the XSFLC is used in conjunction with finite element computations to predict the onset of necking during tubular hydroforming. Hydroforming of straight and pre-bent tubes of EN-AW 5018 aluminum alloy and DP 600 steel are considered. Experiments carried out with these geometries and alloys are described and modeled using finite element computations. These computations, in conjunction with the XSFLC, allow quantitative predictions of necking pressures; and these predictions are found to agree to within 10% of the experimentally obtained necking pressures. The computations also provide a prediction of final failure location with remarkable accuracy. In some cases, the predictions using the XSFLC show some discrepancies when compared with the experimental results, and this paper addresses potential causes for these discrepancies. Potential improvements to the framework of the XSFLC are also discussed.