Forming processes using flexible media represent promising alternatives to the conventional sheet metal forming process allowing them to achieve a higher geometrical complexity. As an example, hydroforming exploits the action of pressurized oil to deform a blank allowing a more uniform distribution of stresses during the forming as well as increased formability (the contact with the punch as in the conventional stamping operations is here absent). Besides hydroforming, forming at high temperatures using a pressurized gas (air, argon) exploits the capability of some polycrystalline materials to achieve very high elongation at failure (more than 300%) if processed at high temperatures (more than half of the melting point) and low strain rates. Such property, defined as superplasticity, allows for the achievement of an enormous final geometrical complexity and proposes gas forming as a promising alternative for several applications, from the automotive to the biomedical sector.
Pressure forming, in addition, is the advanced process of using vacuum technology and pressure on the polar sides of the metal/plastic sheet in order to create the desired shape or mold. Pressure forming creates highly detailed metal/plastic parts in a process where cold/heated thermoplastic sheets are pressed against their mold surface using both vacuum and pressure. The result is metal/plastic parts with zero residual stress, a fine level of detail, and features like vents and louvers, molded-in textures, words and logos, sharp corners, tight tolerances, and zero drafts. Therefore, regardless of the specific sheet-forming process, the definition and optimization of the main process parameters are of key importance to meet the desired requirements.
Furthermore, a rising trend in the mentioned processes has recently been noticed, with the goal of achieving high-level precision with the reduced cost along with part-to-part repeatability. Therefore, this research topic seeks to address the areas in this field that are still unstudied and or not sufficiently explored, focusing on the newest innovations in terms of process design in forming/manufacturing.
We warmly welcome submissions in the form of original research, review, short communication, and perspective articles around, but not limited to, the following topics of interest:
1. Traditional and non-traditional forming processes by flexible media.
2. Development of new concepts, processes, and systems for various engineering applications using pressure forming.
3. Hydroforming issues of elegant parts.
4. Superplastic forming of light alloys (titanium, aluminum, magnesium).
5. Application of evolutionary computing approaches.
6. High-performance pressure and vacuum thermoforming.
7. Tribological issues in high-performance pressure and vacuum thermoforming.
8. Tribological Traditional and non-traditional forming processes.
9. Forming behavior of pressure forming.
10. Process design by means of a Finite element-based approach.
Keywords:
Forming behavior, element-based, light alloys, flexible media, pressure forming, Hydroforming issues, pressure processes, vacuum thermoforming
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Forming processes using flexible media represent promising alternatives to the conventional sheet metal forming process allowing them to achieve a higher geometrical complexity. As an example, hydroforming exploits the action of pressurized oil to deform a blank allowing a more uniform distribution of stresses during the forming as well as increased formability (the contact with the punch as in the conventional stamping operations is here absent). Besides hydroforming, forming at high temperatures using a pressurized gas (air, argon) exploits the capability of some polycrystalline materials to achieve very high elongation at failure (more than 300%) if processed at high temperatures (more than half of the melting point) and low strain rates. Such property, defined as superplasticity, allows for the achievement of an enormous final geometrical complexity and proposes gas forming as a promising alternative for several applications, from the automotive to the biomedical sector.
Pressure forming, in addition, is the advanced process of using vacuum technology and pressure on the polar sides of the metal/plastic sheet in order to create the desired shape or mold. Pressure forming creates highly detailed metal/plastic parts in a process where cold/heated thermoplastic sheets are pressed against their mold surface using both vacuum and pressure. The result is metal/plastic parts with zero residual stress, a fine level of detail, and features like vents and louvers, molded-in textures, words and logos, sharp corners, tight tolerances, and zero drafts. Therefore, regardless of the specific sheet-forming process, the definition and optimization of the main process parameters are of key importance to meet the desired requirements.
Furthermore, a rising trend in the mentioned processes has recently been noticed, with the goal of achieving high-level precision with the reduced cost along with part-to-part repeatability. Therefore, this research topic seeks to address the areas in this field that are still unstudied and or not sufficiently explored, focusing on the newest innovations in terms of process design in forming/manufacturing.
We warmly welcome submissions in the form of original research, review, short communication, and perspective articles around, but not limited to, the following topics of interest:
1. Traditional and non-traditional forming processes by flexible media.
2. Development of new concepts, processes, and systems for various engineering applications using pressure forming.
3. Hydroforming issues of elegant parts.
4. Superplastic forming of light alloys (titanium, aluminum, magnesium).
5. Application of evolutionary computing approaches.
6. High-performance pressure and vacuum thermoforming.
7. Tribological issues in high-performance pressure and vacuum thermoforming.
8. Tribological Traditional and non-traditional forming processes.
9. Forming behavior of pressure forming.
10. Process design by means of a Finite element-based approach.
Keywords:
Forming behavior, element-based, light alloys, flexible media, pressure forming, Hydroforming issues, pressure processes, vacuum thermoforming
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.