Finite element analysis of the effect of the controlled parameters on plate forming induced by ultrasonic impact forming (UIF) process

Abstract A three-step numerical model was used to simulate the Ultrasonic Impact Forming (UIF) process using non-uniform residual stress distributions within target plates. A nearly single curvature deformation was obtained by simulating the strip deformation process using different impact trajectories. The influence of the controlled parameters on the arc height and radius of curvature of the strips was investigated by analysing the non-uniform residual stress distributions. Increasing the pin velocity, and decreasing the device moving velocity and offset distance, resulted in an increase in strip deformation. The double curvature deformation was obtained by simulating a square plate. By comparing the forming results with the strip results, the deformation of the square plate was smaller in both the transverse and longitudinal directions. The relationships between the transverse and longitudinal deformations were analysed. Furthermore, the effects of both the residual stress distributions and plate stiffness on the deformations were investigated.