| name | deep-drawing |
| description | Deep drawing (cup drawing) — blank size calculation, drawing ratio (LDR/DR), blank holder force, punch force prediction, ironing, earing and anisotropy (r-bar and Δr values), forming limit diagram (FLD), sheet metal formability (Erichsen test, n-value, r-value), wrinkling and tearing failure modes, multi-stage drawing sequences, and ISO/ASTM standards for sheet metal formability testing. |
| metadata | {"priority":7,"promptSignals":{"phrases":["deep drawing","cup drawing","sheet metal forming","forming limit diagram","FLD","blank holder"],"minScore":3}} |
Deep Drawing — Complete Skill
Fundamentals of Deep Drawing
Process Description
Deep drawing: sheet metal blank drawn into a die by punch to form hollow cup/shell
Distinguished from stamping/blanking: material flows plastically from flange into cup wall (not fracture-based)
Material undergoes: radial tension (punch-to-flange direction) + circumferential compression (hoop) in flange → thickening tendency → blank holder prevents wrinkling
Key components:
Punch: applies axial load; diameter = cup inner diameter
Die: cup outer diameter; die radius r_d (must not be too sharp → tearing)
Blank holder: applies force to flange to prevent wrinkling
Blank: circular sheet of diameter D₀; thickness t₀
Blank Size Calculation
Area Conservation Method
Volume (area) conservation:
A_blank = A_cup_surface [total surface area of finished cup = blank area]
For cylindrical cup (inner diameter d, height h, bottom radius r_b):
A_blank = A_bottom + A_wall + A_flange_if_any
Simple cylinder with flat bottom: π×D₀²/4 = π×d²/4 + π×d×h [ignoring corner radii]
→ D₀ = √(d² + 4dh) [approximate; no corner radius]
With bottom radius r_d:
More precise blank diameter includes surface area of the knuckle radius:
A_knuckle ≈ 2π × r_d × (d/2 − r_d) [add for non-negligible knuckle radius]
Example:
Cup: inner d = 80 mm; height h = 60 mm; t₀ = 1.5 mm (thin; area conservation valid)
D₀ = √(80² + 4×80×60) = √(6400 + 19200) = √25600 = 160 mm
Drawing Ratio and Limiting Drawing Ratio
Drawing Ratio (DR)
Drawing ratio:
DR = D₀ / d_punch [D₀ = blank diameter; d_punch = punch diameter; ratio must be ≤ LDR to draw without failure]
Limiting Drawing Ratio (LDR):
Maximum DR before fracture in cup wall
Theoretically: LDR = exp(1) = 2.72 for ideal isotropic material with uniform elongation
Practically: LDR depends on material properties, specifically normal anisotropy r̄
LDR ≈ exp(√(r̄/(1+r̄)))^(correction) [approximate; from energy balance]
More accurate empirical correlation:
LDR = 1.8 to 2.2 for mild steel; 1.6–1.8 for aluminum; up to 2.4 for IF steel
r-value (Lankford parameter, plastic strain ratio):
r = ε_width / ε_thickness [measured in tensile test; r > 1 means material resists thinning]
r̄ = (r₀ + 2r₄₅ + r₉₀) / 4 [average r-value; higher r̄ → better deep drawability → higher LDR]
Normal anisotropy: r̄ > 1 means material thickens preferentially rather than thinning → more material can be drawn without wall fracture
Typical r̄ values:
IF (interstitial-free) steel: r̄ = 1.8–2.3 (excellent drawability)
SPCD (JIS) drawing steel: r̄ = 1.4–1.9
1100-O aluminum: r̄ = 0.6–0.8 (poor drawability)
Brass 70/30: r̄ = 0.9
Punch Force Calculation
Maximum Punch Force
Empirical punch force:
F_max = π × d_p × t₀ × UTS × (DR − 0.7) [d_p = punch diameter; t₀ = blank thickness; UTS = ultimate tensile strength]
Note: (DR − 0.7) correction for friction and bending
More precise (from energy method):
F_max = π × d_p × t₀ × σ_flow × ln(DR) × correction_factor
σ_flow = average flow stress over the drawing operation
correction_factor ≈ 1 + 4μ × h / d_p [μ = friction coefficient 0.05–0.15; h = depth of draw at maximum force]
Example:
d_p = 80 mm; t₀ = 1.5 mm; UTS = 400 MPa; DR = 2.0; μ = 0.1
F_max = π × 80 × 1.5 × 400 × (2.0 − 0.7) = 376,991 × 1.3 = 195 kN ≈ 200 kN
Blank Holder Force
Blank holder force (BHF):
Too low → wrinkling; too high → excessive friction → wall fracture
Empirical: F_BH = 1/3 × F_max [rough guide]
Or: F_BH = σ_BH × (A_blank − A_punch) where σ_BH = 1–3 MPa surface pressure (empirical)
Optimum BHF: variable BHF controllers now common — high at start, reduced as flange shrinks
Forming Limit Diagram (FLD)
FLD and Forming Limit Curve (FLC)
FLD coordinates:
x-axis: minor strain ε₂ (in-plane, perpendicular to major)
y-axis: major strain ε₁ (in-plane, in direction of maximum strain)
FLC: boundary between safe forming region and fracture/necking zone
Points above FLC → fracture; below → safe
Keeler-Goodwin FLC approximation:
FLC major strain at plane strain (ε₂ = 0):
ε₁_0 ≈ (23.3 + 14.13t₀) × n / 21 [t₀ in mm; n = strain hardening exponent; result in % strain]
FLC shifts up with: higher n, thicker sheet, higher r̄
Strain states:
Biaxial (ε₁ = ε₂): stretch forming, hydroforming (FLC minimum at ε₂ = 0; safer in balanced biaxial)
Plane strain (ε₂ = 0): worst case (FLC minimum); common at die corners
Deep drawing (ε₂ < 0): flange region; safety margin larger; limited by wrinkling, not necking
n-value (strain hardening exponent):
σ = K × ε^n [power law; K = strength coefficient; n = strain hardening exponent]
Tensile measurement: n = log(σ₂/σ₁) / log(ε₂/ε₁) between two strain points (typically 10% and UTS)
Higher n → better formability (more uniform strain distribution before necking)
Mild steel: n = 0.18–0.22; IF steel: n = 0.22–0.28; Al 5xxx: n = 0.22–0.30
Erichsen Cupping Test (ISO 20482)
Erichsen test: hemispherical punch (Ø20 mm) pressed into clamped sheet until fracture
Erichsen Index (IE) = punch depth at fracture [mm]; higher = more formable
Steel SPCE: IE ≈ 10–12 mm; Al 1050-O: IE ≈ 10–12 mm; AHSS DP600: IE ≈ 8–9 mm
Failure Modes
Wrinkling
Wrinkling (hoop buckling of flange):
Occurs when circumferential compressive stress in flange exceeds critical buckling stress
Critical condition: σ_θ_critical = E_t × (t₀/w_flange)² / (12(1−ν²)) [w_flange = annular flange width]
Prevention: sufficient blank holder force; avoid excessive clearance between blank holder and die
Tearing (Wall Fracture)
Tearing: fracture through cup wall at punch radius (location of maximum stress)
Occurs when DR > LDR; or BHF too high → excessive friction; or die radius too small → bending stress
Punch nose radius: r_p ≥ 4t₀ to 6t₀ to avoid stress concentration
Die radius: r_d ≥ 5t₀ to 8t₀ for smooth material flow
Earing
Earing: non-uniform cup height due to planar anisotropy
Δr = (r₀ + r₉₀ − 2r₄₅) / 2 [Δr = planar anisotropy; Δr > 0 → ears at 0° and 90°; < 0 → ears at 45°]
Earing height: δh/h ≈ 0.4 × Δr [approximately]
Mitigation: use material with small |Δr|; or trim ears in finishing operation
Multi-Stage Drawing
Re-drawing Sequences
When DR > LDR: multi-stage drawing required
Reduction ratio for each stage:
Stage 1: DR₁ ≤ LDR (typically 2.0)
Stage 2: DR₂ ≤ 1.2–1.4 (re-draw; material work-hardened; requires larger reduction allowed before anneal)
Stage 3+: DR₃ ≤ 1.15–1.25
Intermediate annealing:
Required when material has insufficient ductility for next draw
Recrystallization anneal: restore r-value and n-value; temperature per alloy (Fe: 650°C; Al: 300–380°C)
Overall reduction achievable:
3-stage: D₀/d_final ≈ 2.0 × 1.35 × 1.20 = 3.24 (very deep cups)
Standards and References
| Standard | Scope |
|---|
| ISO 20482 | Erichsen cupping test (formability) |
| ISO 10113 | Metallic sheet — r-value determination |
| ISO 10275 | Metallic sheet — n-value determination |
| ASTM A1008 | Steel sheet, cold-rolled (drawing quality DQ, EDDQ) |
| JIS G3141 | Cold-reduced carbon steel sheet (SPCC/SPCD/SPCE) |
| ISO 12004 | Metallic materials — FLC determination |
Output
Provide: part geometry (cup inner diameter d [mm]; height h [mm]; flange width [mm] if any; corner radii [mm]; wall thickness t_final [mm]), blank (D₀ = √(d² + 4dh) [mm]; t₀ [mm]; material: SPCD/IF steel/5052-O aluminum), drawing ratio check (DR = D₀/d; LDR from r̄ value; DR ≤ LDR? → single draw; else multi-stage plan), punch force (F_max = π×d_p×t₀×UTS×(DR−0.7) [kN]; blank holder force = F_max/3 [kN]), material properties (r̄ [dimensionless]; Δr; n-value; K [MPa]; UTS [MPa]; elongation [%]), FLD check (major strain ε₁ at critical zone [%]; minor strain ε₂ [%]; plot vs. FLC; safety margin [%]; n and t₀ effect on FLC), failure mode assessment (wrinkling: BHF ≥ minimum; tearing: DR ≤ LDR; earing: Δr magnitude; δh [mm] expected), tooling (punch radius r_p = 5×t₀ [mm]; die radius r_d = 6×t₀ [mm]; die clearance = t₀ × 1.05–1.15; lubricant: mineral oil / zinc phosphate + soap), multi-stage plan if DR > LDR (stages; DR per stage; anneal between stages?), and applicable standard (ISO 10113 for r-value; ISO 12004 for FLC; ISO 20482 Erichsen test; ASTM A1008 for material grade).