Metal forming (sheet metal stamping) refers to the manufacturing of thin sheet metal parts (e.g., fenders, channels, hub caps, stiffeners, etc.).  It involves stretching, drawing and bending a sheet of metal into a desired shape. Stamped metal parts (aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, etc.) are commonly found in the automotive and aerospace applications. These parts are produced in large quantities, using special tooling and high-volume production techniques.  

LS-DYNA For Hot Stamping Sheet Metal Parts

Shown in the above movie hot_stamping.avi are the manufacturing steps required to hot stamp a sheet metal part. The blank is first heated to the austenization temperature, about 950C. The blank is then transferred to the dies. During the transfer the blank decreases in temperature due to heat lose to the environment by convection and radiation. The blank is placed on the lower die. The blank bottom surface thermal boundary conditions during the transfer process must be turned off as contact with the lower die now controls the heat transfer process. This causes a temperature gradient to occur through the thickness of the blank. The dies close forming the part. The part is held in the dies for several seconds to quench the material causing a phase transformation to martensite. The movie shows the blank cooling and the dies heating up. Notice the serpentine temperature pattern occurring on the lower die surface. This is caused by the serpentine cooling passages in the lower die. The second part of the movie shows the cooling fluid passing through these passages. Colder fluid pushes the hot fluid from the stamping process out of the tubes, thereby cooling the die for the next stamping and quenching  process.

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