HIGH ENERGY IMPACT FORMING PROGRAM. STATE OF THE ART SURVEY

The state-of-the-art of rubber pad forming of sheet materials at velocities greater than those produced by the usual drop hammer or hydraulic press was investigated. No current programs were discovered. Some work is being done at increased pressures on the workpiece with existing equipment but no work was being done at velocities greater than 50 fps because of the limitations of existing rubber pad forming equipment. Previous work is described with particular attention to the type of equqe fof equipment, and the instrumentation used. The work to be done in the second phase of the program using existing General Dynamics Corporation high energy rate machines capable of operating at the necessary high velocities is outlined. (Author)