Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thinning Behavior Simulations in Superplastic Forming of Friction Stir Processed Titanium 6Al-4V

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was undertaken to simulate the thinning behavior of titanium 6Al-4V alloy sheet during Superplastic Forming and to evaluate the feasibility of controlling thinning in areas of interest with Friction Stir Processing (FSP) of the material. The commercially available Finite Element Analysis software ABAQUS was used to execute these simulations. Material properties of the parent sheet and the Friction Stir Processed regions input into the models were determined experimentally by elevated temperature tensile testing. The results of these simulations were compared to experimental test results via Superplastically Forming representative aerospace parts and analytical computations for validation. It was found that numerical simulations can be used to predict the thin-out characteristics of superplastically formed titanium parts and the thin-out can be controlled in desired areas by FSP, locally, prior to forming.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. The Welding Institute, 20 February 2006, http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/unprotected/band_1/fswintro.html

  2. R.S. Mishra and Z.Y. Ma, Friction Stir Welding and Processing, Mater. Sci. Eng. R, 2005, 50, p 1–78

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. T.J. Lienert, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded Titanium Alloys, Friction Stir Welding and Processing, Chapter 7, ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007, p 123–154

  4. M. Peel, A. Steuwer, M. Preuss, and P.J. Withers, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Residual Stresses as a Function of Welding Speed in Aluminum AA5083 Friction Stir Welds, Acta Mater., 2003, 51, p 4791–4801

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Y. Li, E. Hood, W. Tang, and A.P. Reynolds, Friction Stir Welding of TIMETAL 21S, TMS Annual Meeting Proceedings, 2005, p 81–89

  6. A.J. Ramirez and M.C. Juhas, Microstructural Evolution in Ti-6Al-4V Friction Stir Welds, Mater. Sci. Forum, 2003, 426-432, p 2999–3004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. W.-B. Lee, C.-Y. Lee, W.-S. Chang, Y.-M. Yeon, and S.-B. Jung, Microstructural Investigation of Friction Stir Welded Pure Titanium, Mater. Lett., 2005, 59, p 3315–3318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. A.P. Reynolds, E. Hood, and W. Tang, Texture in Friction Stir Welds of Ti Metal 21S, Scripta Mater., 2005, 52, p 491–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. T. Trapp, E. Helder, and P.R. Subramanian, FSW of Titanium Alloys for Aircraft Engine Components, TMS Annual Meeting, Friction Stir Welding and Processing II, 2003, p 173–178

  10. D.G. Sanders and M. Ramulu, Examination of Superplastic Forming Combined with Diffusion Bonding for Titanium: Perspective from Experience, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2004, 13(6), p 744–752

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. G. Grant, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, unpublished research

  12. D.G. Sanders, “Development of Friction Stir Welding Combined with Superplastic Forming Processes for the Fabrication of Titanium Structures,” Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal, University of Washington, 2007

  13. E.J. Klock-McCook, “Characterization of Friction Stir Welded and Superplastically Formed Friction Stir Welded Joints of Titanium,” Masters Thesis, University of Washington, 2005

  14. P.D. Edwards, “Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Friction Stir Welded and Superplastically Formed Friction Stir Welded Titanium,” Masters Thesis, University of Washington, 2006

  15. P. Edwards, Tensile Behavior Simulation of Friction Stir Welded and Superplastically Formed Friction Stir Welded Titanium 6Al-4V Alloy, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2007, Accepted for Publication

  16. A.K. Gosh and C.H. Hamilton, Superplastic Forming of a Long Rectangular Box Section—Analysis and Experiment, Process Modeling, Fundamentals and Applications to Metals, T. Altan, H. Burte, H. Gegel, and A. Male, Ed., American Society for Metals, Metals Park, OH, 1979, p 303–331

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors of this article would like to thank The Boeing Company for their support throughout this research project. Thanks are extended to The Edison Welding Institute for providing the welded specimens and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories for elevated temperature tensile testing of the base and weld materials.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Paul D. Edwards, Daniel G. Sanders & M. Ramulu

  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA

    Glenn Grant

  3. The Edison Welding Institute, Columbus, OH, USA

    Tim Trapp

  4. The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA, USA

    Paul D. Edwards, Daniel G. Sanders & Peter Comley

Authors
  1. Paul D. Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel G. Sanders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Ramulu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Glenn Grant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tim Trapp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peter Comley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel G. Sanders.

Additional information

This article is based on a presentation at the AeroMat Conference, International Symposium on Superplasticity and Superplastic Forming (SPF) held in Austin, TX, June 23-26, 2008.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Edwards, P.D., Sanders, D.G., Ramulu, M. et al. Thinning Behavior Simulations in Superplastic Forming of Friction Stir Processed Titanium 6Al-4V. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 19, 481–487 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9608-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9608-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation