Functioning as an introduction to modern mechanics principles and various applications that deal with the science, mathematics and technical aspects of sheet metal forming, Mechanics Modeling of Sheet Metal Forming details theoretically sound formulations based on principles of continuum mechanics for finite or large deformation, which can then be implemented into simulation codes. The forming processes of complex panels by computer codes, in addition to extensive practical examples, are recreated throughout the many chapters of this book in order to benefit practicing engineers by helping them better understand the output of simulation software.

Material properties -- Sheet deformation processes -- Deformation of sheet in plane stress -- Simplified stamping analysis -- Load instability and tearing -- Bending of sheet -- Simplified analysis of circular shells -- Cylindrical deep drawing -- Stretching circular shells -- Combined bending and tension of sheet -- Hydroforming.

This volume records the proceedings of an international symposium on "ME CHANICS OF SHEET METAL FORMING: Material Behavior and Deformation Analysis." It was sponsored and held at the General Motors Research Labora tories on October 17-18, 1977. This symposium was the twenty-first in an annual series. The objective of this symposium was to discuss the research frontiers in experimental and theoretical methods of sheet metal forming analysis and, also, to determine directions of future research to advance technology that would be useful in metal stamping plants. Metal deformation analyses which provide guide lines for metal flanging are already in use. Moreover, recent advances in computer techniques for solving plastic flow equations and in measurements of material parameters are leading to dynamic models of many stamping operations. These models would accurately predict the stresses and strains in the sheet as a function of punch travel. They would provide the engineer with the knowledge he needs to improve die designs. The symposium papers were organized into five sessions: the state of the art, constitutive relations of sheet metal, role of friction, sheet metal formability, and deformation analysis of stamping operations. We believe this volume not only summarizes the various viewpoints at the time of the symposium, but also pro vides an outlook for materials and mechanics research in the future.

The numerical simulation of sheet metal forming processes has become an indispensable tool for the design of components and their forming processes. This role was attained due to the huge impact in reducing time to market and the cost of developing new components in industries ranging from automotive to packing, as well as enabling an improved understanding of the deformation mechanisms and their interaction with process parameters. Despite being a consolidated tool, its potential for application continues to be discovered with the continuous need to simulate more complex processes, including the integration of the various processes involved in the production of a sheet metal component and the analysis of in-service behavior. The quest for more robust and sustainable processes has also changed its deterministic character into stochastic to be able to consider the scatter in mechanical properties induced by previous manufacturing processes. Faced with these challenges, this Special Issue presents scientific advances in the development of numerical tools that improve the prediction results for conventional forming process, enable the development of new forming processes, or contribute to the integration of several manufacturing processes, highlighting the growing multidisciplinary characteristic of this field.

The concept of virtual manufacturing has been developed in order to increase the industrial performances, being one of the most ef cient ways of reducing the m- ufacturing times and improving the quality of the products. Numerical simulation of metal forming processes, as a component of the virtual manufacturing process, has a very important contribution to the reduction of the lead time. The nite element method is currently the most widely used numerical procedure for s- ulating sheet metal forming processes. The accuracy of the simulation programs used in industry is in uenced by the constitutive models and the forming limit curves models incorporated in their structure. From the above discussion, we can distinguish a very strong connection between virtual manufacturing as a general concept, ?nite element method as a numerical analysis instrument and constitutive laws,aswellas forming limit curves as a speci city of the sheet metal forming processes. Consequently, the material modeling is strategic when models of reality have to be built. The book gives a synthetic presentation of the research performed in the eld of sheet metal forming simulation during more than 20 years by the members of three international teams: the Research Centre on Sheet Metal Forming—CERTETA (Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania); AutoForm Company from Zürich, Switzerland and VOLVO automotive company from Sweden. The rst chapter presents an overview of different Finite Element (FE) formu- tions used for sheet metal forming simulation, now and in the past.