The Effect of Prebending on the Formability in the Tube Hydroforming Process of an Aluminum Rear Subframe

The effects of 2D and 3D prebending on the forming limit in the tube hydroforming process of an automotive rear subframe are evaluated and compared through finite element analyses and experimental tryouts. The influence of the strain path corresponding to each prebending method is discussed in terms of a forming limit diagram (FLD) and a forming limit stress diagram (FLSD). An incremental strain-to-stress transformation scheme to plot the FLSD from the FLD along an arbitrary strain path is proposed. A tube hydroformability testing system designed and manufactured to provide an arbitrary combination of internal pressure and axial feed is introduced. A forming limit diagram of the A6063 aluminum tube material is obtained from free bulging, T-shape forming and cross-shape forming tests using this system.