Evaluation of a new solid-shell finite element on the simulation of sheet metal forming processes

Abstract

In this paper, the performance of the solid-shell finite element SHB8PS is assessed in the context of sheet metal forming simulation using anisotropic elastic-plastic behavior models. This finite element technology has been implemented into the commercial implicit finite element code Abaqus/Standard via the UEL subroutine. It consists of an eight-node three-dimensional hexahedron with reduced integration, provided with an arbitrary number of integration points along the thickness direction. The use of an in-plane reduced integration scheme prevents some locking phenomena, resulting in a computationally efficient formulation when compared to conventional 3D solid elements. Another interesting feature lies in the possibility of increasing the number of through-thickness integration points within a single element layer, which enables an accurate description of various phenomena in sheet forming simulations. A general elastic-plastic model has been adopted in the constitutive modeling for sheet forming applications with plastic anisotropy. As an illustrative example, the performance of the element is shown in the earing prediction of a cylindrical cup drawing process.