Experimental examination of hydroformed plates and tubes

The current study has been initiated to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of the hydroforming process, which is gaining popularity in many industries, and the limitations on its applicability. The study outlines an experimental set-up that is capable of studying many of the parameters that contribute to the success and applicability of the process. The set-up has been devised for conducting experiments on hydroforming of circular plates and thin walled tubes when processed to produce desired final products. During the process of deformation, the strain throughout the plate or tube samples was determined experimentally in order to investigate the thinning effect that is usually associated with the hydroforming process. Also, the effect of material strain hardening during deformation was considered. The collapse load that leads to excessive and uncontrollable deformation is also determined and a forming limit is established.