Finite Element Analysis Management And Process Optimization Platform For Metal Volume Forming

Computer aided engineering technology is one of the most important way toshorten products research cycle, improve products’ performance, reliability and safety,and reduce costs for companies. As one of most significant development direction ofCAE technology, CAE platform can improve the applying situation that CAE softwaresare used as single tool. Therefor, for metal volume forming finite element analysis, thispaper commits to develop a CAE platform that can fulfill finite element analysisprojects work flow management and metal volume forming process parametersoptimization. The main achievements are listed as below.First, for ensuring the practicality and flexible scalability of CAE platform, itssoftware architecture based on C/S mode was designed after studying companies’research requirements. For centralized managing users’ information and privileges, theuser management program which is based on relational database was developed. Formanaging all finite element analysis projects running on platform efficiently,scientifically and systematically, finite element analysis projects work flowmanagement system was programmed.Second, for reducing workload of orthogonal experiment which takes finiteelement analysis as experimental method, orthogonal experiment design programwhich is based on orthogonal experiment method was developed. Based on DEFORMText mode, for multiple simulation projects, simulation parameters can be inputtedautomatically, simulations can be runned automatically, simulation results can beextracted automatically. Besides, orthogonal experiment results can be analysed byrange analysis method and concise reports can be produced.Third, for obtaining the optimal process parameters combination of metal volumeforming process precisely and quickly, metal volume forming process parametersoptimization program was developed. Sample data producing program which is basedon uniform design experiment was developed. Linear regression analysis and multiplepolynomial regression analysis programs were developed which took uniform designexperiment results as sample data. Based on conventional SA algorithm, the advanced SA program was developed which can solve the optimal process parameterscombination for metal volume forming by setting regression equations as solvingobjects. What’s more, by calculating classic examples, regression results of MATLABand regression analysis program were compared, optimization results of Isight and theadvanced SA program were compared. Comparison results show that programs in theplatform are accurate.Last, for verifying the practicality and accuracy of this platform, orthogonalexperiment for AISI1015hot backward extrusion was designed by orthogonalexperiment program. Relationship among model initial hardness, model initialtemperature, frictional coefficient and top model maximum wear depth were studied.Besides, uniform design experiment for AISI1015hot backward extrusion wasdesigned. Regression equation between the process parameters mentioned above andtop model wear depth was worked out by setting uniform designed experiment resultsas sample data. The optiaml process parameters combination for AISI1015hotbackward extrusion was solved. In addition, and by comparing the results which weregot as above and those from MATLAB and Isight, the accuracy of CAE platformprograms are further proven to be high.In conclusion, the finite element analysis management and process parametersoptimization platform for metal volume forming which was developed is practical andaccurate. It can be a significant tool for companies’ research. Referential value for CAEplatform further development is provided.