Author : Bharathi . P, Venkateswarlu. G, Davidson. M.J, Selvaraj. N, Venugopal. L

The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal values of end forming process parameters namely die angle (α), ratio of the radius of the die and the radius of the tube (r_p /r₀ ), punch velocity (v), friction (µ), resulting in an optimal value of formability of tube in radial and linear directions. In this investigation, the combination of Taguchi analysis and finite element method was used to determine the influence of process parameters on formability of aluminium 2024 tube. Using signal-to-noise ratio and the ANOVA technique, the influence of each parameter was studied. Simulations were observed as per orthogonal array using finite element code. Based on the predicted expansion of length in the radial and linear directions and analysis of variance, it was observed that the die angle has the greatest influence on formability of tube in radial direction followed by punch velocity, friction and ratio of the radius of the die to the radius of the tube. Whereas, in linear expansion, the die angle has the most outstanding influence on the formability followed by ratio of the radius of the die to the radius of the tube, punch velocity, and co-efficient of friction.

Keywords: End forming, Formability, Taguchi, ANOVA

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.2,No.1 (March-2012)