FEM analysis of contact mechanism in press-forming of lubricant pre-coated steel sheet

This paper describes the contact situation between the die and the lubricant pre-coated steel sheet in the press-forming by using FEM simulation. The FEM simulation is carried out by supposing that the lubricant pre-coated steel sheet consists of the lubrication layer and thick galvanized layer. Both the lubrication layer and galvanized layer are assumed as rigid–plastic material. The variations in the contact situation between the die and the lubricant pre-coated steel sheet are investigated by changing the friction coefficient between the die and lubrication layer, the thickness and hardness of lubrication layer, the velocity ratio of the relative sliding velocity to pressing velocity, etc. The simulated results show that the contact area ratio is influenced largely by the average contact pressure, the velocity ratio, the thickness of lubrication layer, and friction coefficient.