Size effect in gas forming a hot-bent AA5xxx V-shaped trough trimmed for an airplane strakelet skin panel. Issue 9 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Shyong; Tang, Jung-Sung; Chu, Chun-Lin
• Is Part Of: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology. Volume 86:Issue 9/12(2016)
• Page Start: 2747
• Page End: 2752
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Superplastic forming -- Gas forming -- Hot-bending-assisted gas forming -- Plastic buckling; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Production engineering -- Periodicals; 670.427
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-016-8380-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-3768

Abstract

Abstract Superplastic forming or gas forming is favorable method for the manufacture of sheet metal for making airplane skin panels. However, a major challenge in applying this method is controlling the thickness distribution in the formed product. Here, we explore a hot-bending-assisted process for gas forming of a deep trough with a complex shape for use in airplane wings. We propose the deliberate arrangement of wrinkles to achieve uniform thickness distribution. Because full-scale experiments are costly, sub-scale specimens are preferred for collecting experimental data. In linking sub-scale data to full-scale manufacturing, the size effect on wrinkle formation sites is important. The cause of the pre-form contour and larger-size specimen could be the greater variations in contour modes due to plastic buckling during the pre-forming stage.