Publications

We have presented our work on many conferences and user meetings. The list below shows selected publications, usually detailed descriptions about material modelling and identification of material properties.

Influential publications are marked with a star.

  • crash
  • polymers
Richter M, Oberhofer G, Dell H, Gese H, Duddeck F: A phenomenological material model for thermoplastic textile composites for crashworthiness simulation combining a stress- and strain-based failure criterion

Textile-reinforced thermoplastics are a useful material in light-weight designs, but it is difficult to predict their complex plastic behaviour and their failure in crash simulations. This paper proposes a new macro-scale model based on different mechanical phenomena on micro-scale. An exemplary experimental characterization of an organic sheet is presented followed by a novel material characterization for the modular material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM.

Thin-Walled Structures, Volume 184, March 2023, 110490

  • crash
  • am
Holfelder P, Brenner F, Rund M, Witte A, Junghans S, Seyfert C, Richter M, Dell H, Koukolikova M, Gese H, Dzugan J: Finite-Element simulation of plasticity and fracture of Inconel 718 deposited by LPBF – chance, uses and challenges

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) can create parts that have properties that cannot be achieved with classical materials and whose behaviour can be tailored by adjusting the process parameters. Numerical models can help to exploit the full potential of additively manufactured materials. COMTES FHT carried out comprehensive experiments that revealed a significant orthotropy of plasticity and fracture. This orthotropy can be modelled with the material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM. Suitable characterizations for various parameters showed good agreement between physical tests and finite-element simulations for Inconel 718.

Additive Manufacturing Tage, Web Conference, 22–23 Feb 2022

  • crash
  • safety
  • metals
Koralla S, Tiwari S, Kahre P, Daphal P, Gese H: Engineering challenges in alloy wheel rim for safety simulations

The rim of aluminium alloy wheels is one of the critical components in frontal crash tests. Determining failure characteristics of an alloy wheel poses many difficulties considering its brittle nature, porosity and inhomogeneity in material properties across different regions of wheel rim due to mold design, cooling rate and other process parameters of the low-pressure die casting process. This paper describes the modelling and simulation method developed to predict failure of the wheel rim and the associated tire blowout.

SIAT International Conference 2021

  • crash
  • composites
Richter M, Dell H, Oberhofer G, Gese H, Duddeck F: Material modeling of textile reinforced composites with respect to fracture initiation and strain rate sensitivity

Semi-finished products with woven textile structures show a promising potential for the substitution of Al or Mg in structural parts conventionally manufactured with ductile steel sheets. Endless glass-fibers are woven into plain, twill or satin weaves and embedded into a ductile thermoplastic matrix. This study outlines how the modular material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM can describe the combination of brittle high-strength fibres and a ductile matrix.

8th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference: Composites, 24 Sept 2021, Göteborg

  • de
  • metals
  • polymers
  • am
Richter M, Dell H, Oberhofer G, Gese H: A phenomenological material model for simulating additively manufactured materials with orthotropic properties

The additive manufacturing process of metallic or polymeric components yields a highly anisotropic layered structure. An experimental programme investigates that anisotropic deformation and failure behaviour and the material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM is used to assess the behaviour of such structures under misuse loads in FE simulations.

DVM-Conference 2019

  • crash
  • polymers
  • composites
Richter M, Gese H, Dell H, Oberhofer G, Duddeck F: Surrogate modeling of hybrid material pairings including organic sheets

Laser-welded sheets of different organic sheets are tested. The results of these experiments are used to develop surrogate models to represent the deformation and failure behaviour of the joints in a simulation complying with industrial discretization. The finite-element model employs a phenomenological material model to coverthe full range of the organic sheet’s fracture initiation from a brittle mode in fiber direction to a ductile mode in off-axis orientations.

4th International Conference Hybrid 2020 – Materials and Structures, 28–29 April 2020, Web-Conference, Germany

  • crash
  • safety
  • polymers
Groß M, Oehm M, Richter M, Oberhofer G: Integrative Crash Simulation of Short Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (SFRT)

The material properties of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics are highly dependent on the local fiber distribution and the markedness of anisotropy can vary within a part. This study outlines a comprehensive test programme for orthotropic plasticity and fracture behavior and how the local anisotropy direction and degree obtained in the mould-injection process is incorporated into the structural FE analysis.

VDI PIAE Plastics in Automotive Engeineering, Mannheim, 3–4 April 2019

  • crash
  • metals
  • polymers
Gese H, Oberhofer G, Brenner F, Richter M: Comprehensive modeling of lightweight materials in crashworthiness simulation enables more reliable virtual development

This article provides an overview of the available modules to describe metallic materials and non-reinforced and fiber-reinforced plastics in the material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM. and it presents example applications of various materials in detail.

Enginesoft Newsletter, 4 / 2018, Winter 2018

  • de
  • crash
  • metals
  • polymers
Gese H, Oberhofer G, Richter M: Modelling various light-weight materials in crash simulations

This survey of MF GenYld + CrachFEM presents the modules that can describe deformation and failure for light-weight materials in automotive designs and illustrates their application on boron steels and fibre-reinforced thermoplasts.

Siegener Leichtbaukolloquium 2018

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H, Reissner M, Brenner F: Prediction of failure in sheet metal forming simulation – An integrated approach for shell and solid discretization

After outlining the general concept of the modular material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM to predict material failure in sheet metals, this lecture presents enhancements to the failure model with a focus on sheet and solid meshes used in forming simulations.

Forming Technology Forum 2018, Zürich

  • forming
  • metals
Weiß-Borkowski N, Lian J, Camberg A, Tröster T, Münstermann S, Bleck W, Gese H, Richter H: Forming Limit Curves of DP600 Determined in High-speed Nakajima Tests and Predicted by Two Different Strain-rate-sensitive Models

Measuring forming limit curves at high strain rates is costly. Theoretical models are an alternative. This study compares the results obtained from the numerical algorithm Crach and the extended modified maximum force criterion with experimental results. These two models were calibrated by the quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial tensile tests and bulge tests of DP600.

ESAFORM 2018

  • forming
  • metals
Michalski M, Leicht U, Heath A, Merklein M: Dynamic correction of oscillatory forces during ultrasonic-assisted metal forming

High-frequency oscillations that are superimposed on forming processes can reduce the required forces, but a precise measurement of the forming forces oscillating with high frequency is necessary. This study introduces an approach to creating and employing a frequency dependent force correction in the high dynamic range.

Production Engineering 11(2017)4–5, S. 455–465

  • de
  • crash
  • polymers
Vogler M, Oberhofer G, Dell H: Some Aspects on Characterizing and Modeling of Unreinforced and Short Fiber Reinforced Polymers in Crashworthiness Applications

The presentation introduces material modelling with MF GenYld + CrachFEM and the underlying concept of parameter characterization. Their application to unreinforced and short-fibre reinforced polymers will be shown with a focus on strain localization under tension and the ductile-brittle transition of failure.

Deutsches LS-Dyna Forum 2016, 10–12 October 2016

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H, Reissner M, Heinle I, Wiegand K, Richter H, Lechner M, Hofmann M: Experimental and theoretical investigations of shear band localization and shear fracture in advanced high strength steel sheets

Shear band localization is a frequent cause of shear fracture in high-strength steels. The strain distribution during the onset of shear band localization in a special shear specimen was measured optically. The findings were incorporated into a tentative shear-band instability module in MATFEM’s material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM.

Forming Technology Forum 2016, 12–13 September 2016, Ohlstadt, Germany

  • de
  • crash
  • polymers
Vogler M, Dell H, Oberhofer G, Gese H: Modelling non-reinforced, short-fibre reinforced and endless-fibre reinforced polymers in crash simulations

The material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM includes several modules that can be used to model various classes of ploymers: non-reinforced polymers; short-fibre reinforced polymers, organic sheet and endless-fibre reinforced polymers with unidirectional layers. These modules comprise modules for anisotropic viscoelastic-plastic deformation and anisotropic fracture. A modelling approach for non-orthotropic unidirectional fibres is shown.

Kunststoffe und Simulation 2016, 26–27 April 2016

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Brenner F, Gese H, Dell H, Oberhofer G, Metzmacher G: Use of Specific Models for Creep, Plasticity and Fracture in Forming and Crashworthiness Simulation via UCREEP and VUMAT

When simulating various cold and thermal forming processes and crash load cases of metals, all relevant aspects of the material’s behavior such as creep, plasticity, hardening, fracture, strain-rate and temperature dependency must be accounted for. Three examples are presented in which forming behavior and failure prediction is significantly improved by coupling specific user subroutines to Abaqus / Standard or Abaqus / Explicit.

Deutsche SIMULIA-Konferenz, 12–13 Nov 2015, Aachen

  • forming
  • metals
Buckley M, Reissner M, Oberhofer G, Gese H: Simulation of the manufacturing process of self-piercing rivets with LS-DYNA with focus on failure prediction for sheets and rivet

The manufacturing process of self-piercing rivets can be simulated effectively by means of 2d-rotational symmetric elements with r-adaptivity. The present work optimizes the numerical parameters for such elements and employs the user material MF GenYld + CrachFEM to assess the riveting process by means of a margin of safety that considers the fracture of the top and bottom sheets as well as fracture of the rivet itself when riveting aluminium and AHSS sheets with limited ductility.

10th European LS-DYNA Conference, Würzburg, Germany

  • crash
  • safety
  • metals
Gese H: Failure Prediction of Quenched Boron Steels in Crashworthiness Simulation

Quenched boron steels are widely used for the passenger cab design, especially for the A- and B-pillars. Components with tailored tempering are used to adapt the material properties locally. The introduction of those boron steels has brought some new challenges to the numerical simulation. The material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM provides comprehensive failure criteria for quenched boron steels. This includes the prediction of localized necking, ductile normal fracture and ductile shear fracture. It is possible to adapt the material properties locally by mapping the hardness provided by the quenching simulation.

International CAE Conference 2014, Pacengo del Garda, Verona, 27–28 October 2014

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H: CrachFEM – A Comprehensive Approach for the Numerical Prediction of Instability And Fracture in Sheet Metal Forming Operations

CrachFEM includes a numerical model to predict tensile instability. The advantage of that model over the classical FLC is that it can determine the limit stresses transiently for non-linear strain paths. The calibration by means of tensile tests reduces the experimental effort and allows to predict the limit strain at high strain-rates or high temperatures.

FLC Conference, 6–7 November 2014, IVP, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

  • crash
  • polymers
Dell H, Yelisseyev V, Oberhofer G: Failure prediction for non-reinforced and short fiber reinforced polymers

The specific behaviour of non-reinforced and short-fiber reinforced polymers in crash or drop test load cases imposes special demands on the material model as well as the experimental determination of material parameters. A robust phenomenological approach is shown.

13th LS-Dyna Forum 2014, Bamberg, 6–8 October 2014

  • forming
  • metals
Entelmann W, Stelling R, Brenner F, Metzmacher G, Gese H: Relaxation Forming of Double Curved Fuselage Panels – Assessment of Formability And Optimization of Process Parameters With Numerical Analysis

Room-temperature stretch forming is the state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing doubly curved fuselage panels of aeroplanes. A new generation of AlMgSc alloys that are stable up to temperatures beyond 300 °C opens up a the possibility of a hot forming process with subsequent stress relaxation. This study describes challenges in simulating the process in order to find good process parameters that minimize springback. The FEA code ABAQUS / Standard was used with a user-defined temperature-dependent material model with orthotropic plasticity and orthotropic creep.

7th Forming Technology Forum Warm and Hot Forming, 15–16 September 2014 Enschede, the Netherlands

  • forming
  • metals
Heath A, Gese H, Oberhofer G, Dell H: Modeling Failure for Nonlinear Strain Paths With CrachFEM

This paper describes a general technique for simulating sheet failure under complex deformation. Separate failure risks are calculated for unstable necking and ductile fracture modes associated with void growth and shear banding. Necking is detected by a multi-scale method that considers sheet inhomogeneity, strain hardening, Bauschinger effects, strain rate sensitivity and the multi-axial stress-state in the neck. The failure methodology is implemented in the software module MF GenYld + CrachFEM, which can be coupled to all major explicit FEM codes.

Numisheet 2014, Melbourne, Australia

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Oberhofer G, Oehm M, Heath A: CrachFEM – A Comprehensive Approach for the Prediction of Sheet Failure in Multi-Step Forming and Subsequent Forming and Crash Simulations

Industrial sheet metal forming simulations predict a possible sheet failure mainly by means of the forming limit diagram (FLC), a criterion based on the onset of localized necking and valid only for linear strain paths. The FLC cannot be used in multistep forming simulations, in subsequent forming and crash simulations or for AHSS, UHSS and aluminium sheets, where fracture can occur without prior necking. MF GenYld + CrachFEM offers a comprehensive approach to predict material failure in sheet metals that overcomes these limitations.

Forming Technology Forum 2013, 19–20 September, 2013, Herrsching, Germany

  • crash
  • metals
Brenner F, Buckley M, Gese H, Oberhofer G: Influence of Discretisation on Stiffness and Failure Prediction in Crashworthiness Simulation of Automotive High-Pressure Die Cast Components

Castings are widely used as part of the car chassis because of their light weight and the flexibility of their design. The comparably low ductility of castings requires dependable crash simulations, but modelling casting parts correctly for finite-element analyses is an issue for several reasons. This study describes the challenges when modelling cast alloys as quasi-homogeneous and provides a benchmark of an enxample alloy modelled with different element types at various mesh sizes.

9th European LS-DYNA Users’ Conference, Manchester, 2–4 June 2013

  • metals
Reißner M, van der Veen S, Groß M, Gese H: Prediction of plane stress fracture toughness for aluminium sheet materials with numerical methods

The aim of the presented work is to determine the thickness dependence of plane-stress fracture toughness by means of finite-element simulations. C(T) 127 specimens of three different aluminium alloys with five different sheet thicknesses from 0.8mm to 3.2mm each were simulated with MF GenYld + CrachFEM with a very fine solid mesh.

ESIS-Workshop on Computational and Experimental Failure Mechanics, 14–15 June 2012, BAM Berlin, Germany

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H: Contribution of improved material models to the virtual assessment of the process robustness of sheet forming processes

This paper focuses on extended criteria for the prediction of sheet failure. In addition to the deterministic prediction of a failure risk, a failure probability can be derived from the scatter of one material batch. An implementation of a model for failure probability is discussed in detail. A stochastic approach can be used on top to account for the influence of the scatter between consecutive material batches.

Forming Technology Forum 2011, 17–18 May 2011, IVP, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

  • crash
  • metals
Weiss U, Bach A: A Contribution of Advanced Material Models for Numerical Simulation of Lightweight Components

Magnesium castings offer significant weight saving potential for many crash-relevant structures in the vehicle. Until now, proper cast magnesium design was difficult and time consuming, as reliable CAE tools were not available. In the European funded research project NADIA, a new set of CAE tools have been developed for AM60 and AM50 alloys that combine local casting process simulation results with crash failure CAE modelling to reliably predict component level crash behaviour. These CAE tools have been made commercially available and integrated into existing CAD / CAE codes.

La Metallurgia Italiana – n. 11–12 / 2011

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Buckley M, Selig M, Oehm M: A new method for CrachFEM damage parameter calculation and transfer from Autoform to LS-Dyna

Many industrial forming simulations are done with the implicit finite-element code Autoform. Subsequent crash analyses should incorporate information from the forming process, but the regular finite-element data exported by Autoform is missing crucial data such as orthotropy and damage parameters. MATFEM and Autoform have developed a method to obtain accumulated failure risks and a risk against localized necking from Autoform simulations in a post-processing step and to incorporate these into crash simulations. The present study compares results of this method with results from the same process simulated with LS-Dyna throughout.

8th European LS-DYNA Users Conference, 23–24 May 2011, Strasbourg

  • forming
  • crash
  • safety
  • metals
Gese H: Advanced prediction of material failure in metal forming and crash simulation with material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM

The material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM has been developed for an advanced prediction of failure and defromation. This presentaton outlines failure prediction in three applications: in the process chain of deep drawing and crash of steel sheets; for aluminium and magnesium extrusions in crash and for magnesium high-pressure die castings in crash.

Enginsoft International Conference 2010, 21 October, Fiera Montichiari, Italy

  • forming
  • metals
Lange C, Bron F, Hänggi P, Möller T, Gese H, Daniel D, Leppin C: Forming simulation of aluminum car body sheet with different yield models and comparison with experiments

In recent years, significant effort has been invested in improving the accuracy of the formability assessment of aluminum car body panels by numerical deep drawing simulations. Adequate modeling of the plastic deformation of the sheet and the friction between sheet and tools are both crucial for correct predictions of the final thickness and fracture. In this paper, the constitutive yield models Barlat 2000, Bron-Besson 2004 and Hill 1948 are investigated for the AA6016 T4 aluminum alloy car body sheet DR100.

IDDRG 2010, Graz, 31 May–2 June 2010

  • crash
  • safety
  • polymers
Oberhofer G, Gese H, Oehm M: Modelling Non-Reinforced and Fiber-Reinforced Polymers with Material Model MF GenYld + CrachFEM

The material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM can model non-reinforced and short fibre-reinforced polymers in crash simulations with a modular approach. Anisotropic hardening can be combined with an elastic and plastic orthotropy for fibre reinforced polymers. The plastic orthotropy can be different for tension and compression. This model for elasto-plastic behaviour is complemented by models to predict the onset of material failure due to ductile normal fracture and ductile shear fracture.

Automotive CAE Grand Challenge 2010" Hanau, 30–31 March 2010

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Gese H, Oberhofer G, Oehm M: Crash Simulation with Material Model MF GenYld + CrachFEM based on Results of Process Simulation

The material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM can be used in multi-trade simulations to evaluate the crashworthiness of components. Multi-trade simulations are analyses of linked physical phenomena where the results of an analysis are incorporated into subsequent simulations. Examples in this lecture include mapping from deep-drawing to crash; properties from processing and joining of sheet metals and local properties of die-cast components.

Automotive CAE Grand Challenge 2010 Hanau, 30–31 March 2010

  • de
  • crash
  • metals
Gese H, Klamser H, Stolfig P, Groß M, Meyer L W, Abdel-Malek S: An improved material model for the assessment of crash performance of magnesium extrusions

Magnesium extrusion profiles offer a good potential for weight reduction in vehicle components. The designer of such components must consider the particularities of megnesium profiles: Non-linear elastic hebaviour, marked plastic orthotropy and anisotropic hardening. The present work outlies the design process of a bumper made of a two-chambered profile made from the Mg alloy MnE21. The simulation used LS-Dyna with the user material model MF GenYld + CrachFEM, which can account for all effects listed above.

Nordmetall-Kolloquium 2–3 December 2009, Adorf near Chemnitz

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H, Obehofer G: Models for Isotropic-Kinematic Hardening and Anisotropic Hardening in Material Model MF Genyld + Crachfem

This presentation presents the available models for anisotropic hardening and isotropic-kinematic hardening in the modular material and failure model MF GenYld + CrachFEM. It is also shown how the inclusion of isotropic-kinematic hardening leads to a better prediction of tensile instability with CrachFEM.

Forming Technology Forum 2009, 5–6 May 2009, IVP, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Dell H, Gese H, Oberhofer G: Advanced Yield Loci and Anisotropic Hardening in the Material Model MF GenYld + CrachFEM

This paper highlights some extended features of the plasticity model MF GenYld. Superposition of two base yield loci can model the material behaviour of some textured sheet materials. A new orthotropic yield locus (Dell 2006) allows to model materials with a low yield strength in shear but elliptical locus in the tension-tension regime for both plane-stress and general three-dimensional stress conditions. Yield locus modification allows to reach a better representation of the deformation by means of factors to scale the locus in a defined stress regime. Anisotropic hardening makes these factors dependent on the plastic strain. It can model the behaviour of materials like stable austenitic steel sheets or magnesium sheets.

Numisheet 2008, 1–5 September 2008, Interlaken, Switzerland

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Kessler L, Gese H, Metzmacher G, Werner H: An approach to model sheet failure after onset of localized necking in industrial high-strength steel stamping and crash simulations

It is well known that after the onset of a local instability additional strain is necessary to induce fracture. In a numerical simulation with shell elements this post-instability strain is more important in elements with small edge lengths as they are used increasingly in industrial applications today. The enhanced necking model combines the model for localized necking with the model for ductile shear fracture. Results for three steel grades and for various mesh sizes are shown and compared to Nakajima tests.

2008 SAE World Congress. 14–17 April 2008, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA

  • crash
  • metals
Lanzerath H, Bach A, Oberhofer G, Gese H: Failure prediction of Boron steels in crash

Hot-formed steels offer a great weight saving potential over conventional cold-formed steels in crash relevant structural parts, because of their enormous strength and the very good dimensional control – there is nearly no springback. The quench hardening process causes a significant reduction of the material ductility, however. The prediction of the deformation and fracture behavior is one of the major interests during the vehicle development process. The paper will give an overview on material properties of Boron steels and outline a suitable failure modeling approach for crash simulation.

2007 SAE World Congress. 16–19 April 2007, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA

  • forming
  • metals
Dell H, Gese H, Oberhofer G: CrachFEM – A Comprehensive Approach for the Prediction of Sheet Metal Failure

Forming limit curves (FLC) are the industry’s standard approach to assessing failure in metal sheets. That concept is limited to linear strain paths, however. The algorithm Crach can predict localized necking for arbitrary strain paths. High-strength steels and aluminium sheets can also be subject to ductile fracture without prior localized necking. The relevant types of fracture for sheet metals are ductile fracture caused by microvoids and shear fracture caused by shear band localization. The comprehensive fracture model CrachFEM can account for those modes.

NUMIFORM ’07, Materials Processing and Design: Modeling, Simulation and Applications, 18–21 June 2007

  • forming
  • metals
Leppin C, Daniel D, Shahani R, Gese H, Dell H: Formability Prediction of Aluminum Sheet in Automotive Applications

The AA6016 T4 aluminum alloy car body sheet DR100 is characterized with a comprehensive experimental programme for orthotopic elastoplastic deformation behavior as well as the failure modes localized necking, ductile fracture and shear fracture. The results are validated with MF GenYld + CrachFEM in deep drawing with a cross-shaped punch modelled with shells and a simplified hemming process modelled with solid elements.

NUMIFORM ’07, Materials Processing and Design: Modeling, Simulation and Applications, 18–21 June 2007

  • crash
  • polymers
Oberhofer G, Franzen M, Dell H: Modelling of Non-Reinforced Polymeric Material Behaviour in the Explicit FEM Method for Crash Simulation

MATFEM has developed the material model MF GenYld which can model different hardening behaviour in tension, compression, shear and biaxial loading, as well as the high degree to which the hardening behaviour depends on the strain rate. This material model has been coupled with CrachFEM for taking into account the influence of loading condition and strain rate on the fracture prediction. In a research project, Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen GmbH and MATFEM validated the material model for non-reinforced polymers in automotive applications. The experiments, the process of material data processing and first validation results are shown.

Kunststoffe + Simulation, 13–14 June 2007, Fellbach / Stuttgart

  • metals
Oberhofer G, Gese H, Groß M, Kühling M, Seidel D: Numerical Analysis of the Balloon Dilatation Process Using the Explicit Finite Element Method for the Optimization of a Stent Geometry

Endovascular stent surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat disorders of the circulatory system. Nearly all of the medium-sized and large blood vessels in the body’s vascular system can be accessed by a balloon catheter system. New stent materials and geometries can be assessed with explicit finite-element simulations. MF GenYld + CrachFEM was used to simulate crimping, balloon dilatation and recoil of the stent, because it can model the Bauschinger effect and stress-state dependent fracture.

LS-Dyna Forum 2006, 12.−13. Oktober 2005, Ulm

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H: Numerical Prediction of FLC with the Program Crach

The numerical algorithm Crach can predict localized necking in sheet metal. It is based on an instability model with an initial imperfection with a finite dimension. Crach uses a comprehensive material model which includes all relevant effects such as plastic orthotropy, combined isotropic-kinematic hardening and strain rate sensitivity. Therefore, Crach can be applied to a wide variety of materials and boundary conditions, e.g. necking during hot forming or necking at high strain rates. Crach’s strength is the prediction of necking for nonlinear strain paths.

FLC Zürich, 15–16 March 2006, IVP, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Kessler L, Beier Th, Werner H, Horstkott D, Dell H, Gese H: Material Selection for an Ultra High Strength Steel Component Based on the Failure Criteria of CrachFEM

An increasing use of combining more than one process step is noticed for coupling crash simulations with the results of forming operations – mostly by inheriting the forming history of plastic strain and material hardening. Introducing a continuous failure model allows a further benefit of these coupling processes; it sometimes can even be the most attractive result of such a work. In this paper the algorithm CrachFEM for fracture prediction has been used to generate more benefit of the successive forming and crash simulations – especially for ultra high strength steels. The choice and selection of the material grade in combination with the component design can therefore be done far before the prototyping might show an unsuccessful crash result; and in an industrial applicable manner.

6th Numisheet Conference 2005, "On the Cutting Edge of Technology" August 15–19, 2005, Detrit, Michigan, U.S.A.

  • crash
  • metals
Hooputra H, Gese H, Dell H, Werner H: A Comprehensive Failure Model for Crashworthiness Simulation of Aluminium Extrusions

A correct representation of the plastic deformation and failure of individual component parts is essential to accurate crashworthiness simulations. This paper presents a comprehensive approach for predicting failure in components based on macroscopic strains and stresses. That approach requires the representation of a number of different failure mechanisms, such as necking due to local instabilities as well as ductile and shear fracture. All failure criteria can represent the influence of non-linear strain paths. Simulation results of three-point bending and axial compression tests of double chamber extrusion components made of an EN AW–7108 T6 aluminium alloy are compared to test results.

International Journal of Crashworthiness, Vol. 9, No.5, Woodhead Publishing (2004), pp. 449–463.

  • crash
  • safety
  • metals
Werner H, Dell H, Metzmacher G, Kessler L, Heath A: Methodology, Validation and Application of a Failure Model Based on Transient Forming Limit Curves for Coupled Stamping and Crash Processes as Part of the IMPACT Project

Predicting the failure of structural components in a crash event is one of the major challenges of numerical simulations in the automotive industry. In the IMPACT project, a numerical model to enhance the failure prediction was developed and applied to selected high-strength sheet steel materials typically used in the body in white. The presented failure model is based on the transient prediction of localized necking in sheets and takes into account the forming history of the components. To validate the model, two- step forming processes have been carried out on a laboratory scale experimentally as well as numerically.

Europam 2003, 16–17 October 2003, Mainz, Germany

  • metals
Schmid M, Claus J, Gese H, Löhe D: Thermal fatigue component test of engine parts

In this study, the effect of thermal fatigue on pistons and cylinder heads is investigated. A test method with realistic heating and cooling conditions is presented. To get information about the constraints at critical regions of the investigated engine components, fiber optic strain and temperature gauges are used. The ratio of measured total strain and thermal strain gives information on proportion of thermal strain being obstructed. The thermal fatigue piston test is simulated with FE methods. The results of experimental and simulated life times are compared.

International Congress Thermal Stresses ICTS 2003, 8–11 June 2003, Blacksburg, Virgina, USA

  • de
  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Dell H, Keller S, Yeliseyev V: Measuring flow curves of metal sheets at high strains for forming simulations

Sheet forming processes such as deep-drawing or hydroforming can lead to very high local deformations. Simulations of these processes must be able to model these large strains. The typical means to obtain flow curves at high stresses is to extrapolate the flow curve measured in unixial tension tests. Since this method can lead to large errors, three alternative experiments are presented and assessed for an aluminium alloy: in-plane torison tests, hydraulic bulge tests and layered stack compression tests can measure flow curves for high strains more reliably.

DVM-Tagung "Werkstoffprüfung 2002 – Kennwertermittlung für die Praxis", 5–6 December 2002, Bad Nauheim

  • de
  • crash
  • metals
Werner H, Gese H: On the significance of strain-rate dependent material properties in crash simulations

Crash simulation aims to assess and improve car designs in order to protect passengers and pedestrians. Since characteristic time spans of deformations during crashes are in the range of milliseconds, the material behaviour at high deformation velocities must be known. This study is about the influence of deformation speed on the material behaviour. Experiments must be carried out at typical deformation speeds during crash scenarios. This work shows suitable experiments to determine strain-rate dependent flow curves and strain-rate dependent fracture.

DVM-Tagung "Werkstoffprüfung 2002 – Kennwertermittlung für die Praxis", 5–6 December 2002, Bad Nauheim

  • forming
  • crash
  • metals
Dell H, Gese H, Keßler L, Werner H, Hooputra H: Continuous failure Prediction Model for Nonlinear Load Paths in Successive Stamping and Crash Processes

The validity of numerical simulations is still limited by the unknown failure of materials when nonlinear load paths in successive stamping and crash processes occur. Localized necking is the main mechanism for fractures in ductile sheet metal. The classical forming limit curve (FLC) is limited to linear strain paths. A new algorithm on the basis of the Marciniak model, Crach, can include the effects of nonlinear strain paths. It is calibrated and validated with a set of multi-stage experiments under static and dynamic strain rates for a mild steel.

SAE Technical Paper Series 2001–01–1131

  • forming
  • metals
Gese H, Beck W, Reese E D: Stretch Forming of Aluminium Sheets

Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH produces large aircraft skin panels with doubly curved geometry from Al-alloys on a stretch forming press. The alloy, heat treatment and the press kinematics can be modified to improve the manufacturing process of a given skin panel. These modifications can be assessed by means of numerical methods. Here, the finite element code PAM-Stamp is used for the simulation of the stretch forming process and springback. The aluminium alloys were modelled with PAM-Stamp’s material 109. Dedicated software can determine the optimal press kinematics and convert them to boundary conditions for the simulation. The presentation includes benchmark problems for actual parts with single- and two-step forming, trimmimg and springback.

PAM ’97, 16–17 October 1997, Prague, Czech Republic