Numerical Analysis in a Beverage Can Utilizing Tube Hydroforming Process

Abstract

Numerical analysis for Tube Hydroforming (THF) was developed in this work to predict the behavior of extruded aluminum tube in the forming die for beverage can applications. THF is a metal-forming process dependent on three parameters: friction between the tube and the die, internal pressure, and material properties of the tube. For a proper simulation, experimental determination of the mechanical properties of aluminum 6061-T5 was conducted, test specimens were obtained directly from the aluminum tube. Numerical simulation and design of experiments were performed to obtain interactions between factors.