Influence of the contact with friction on the deformation behavior of advanced high strength steels in the Nakajima test

This work presents a new understanding on the deformation mechanics involved in the Nakajima test, which is commonly used to determine the forming limit curve of sheet metals, and is focused on the interaction between the friction conditions and the deformation behaviour of a dual phase steel. The methodology is based on the finite element analysis of the Nakajima test, considering different values of the classic Coulomb friction coefficient, including a pressure-dependent model. The validity of the finite element model is examined through a comparison with experimental data. The results show that friction affects the location and strain path of the necking point by changing the strain rate distribution in the specimen. The strain localization alters the contact status from slip to stick at a portion of the contact area from the pole to the necking zone. This leads to the sharp increase of the strain rate at the necking point, as the punch rises further. The influence of the pressure-dependent friction coefficient on the deformation behaviour is very small, due to the uniform distribution of the contact pressure in the Nakajima test. Moreover, the low contact pressure range attained cannot properly replicate real contact condition in sheet metal forming processes of advanced high strength steels.