Homogenisation of Thickness through High Viscous Fluid Flow

This paper describes investigations on new ways to influence sheet metal forming processes through a new parameter. The new adjustable parameter is a shear stress on the surface of the sheet applied during the forming process through high viscous fluid flows. Parallel and hourglass shaped tensile test specimen were investigated, whereby a fluid flow was applied from the ends to the middle of the specimens. The results clearly show a significant influence of the high viscous fluid flows on the specimens. For the hourglass shaped specimen it could be shown that the inhomogeneous cross section distribution could be compensated by the applied shear stresses, so that a homogenous sheet thickness distribution was reached.