Analysis of local loading forming for titanium-alloy T-shaped components using slab method

A large-scale rib-web component may be considered as a combination of many T-shaped components which can reflect forming characteristics of large-scale rib-web components by local loading. So exploring the material flow and filling law of the T-shaped components local loading forming is important for parameter optimization and process control of local loading forming processes of rib-web components. With the help of reasonable assumptions and simplifications, the slab method (SM) is used to analyze the isothermal forming process of titanium-alloy T-shaped components under local loading in this paper. The process of local loading forming and the characteristics of material deformation are analyzed, and two deformation patterns under local loading are found by using the physical experiment. Mathematical models of loading force, rib height (depth of cavity filling) and the position of neutral layer in loading process are established by using the slab method. Calculation-program for models is developed under MATLAB environment, and then the loading force, rib height and position of neutral layer are predicted. The comparison of the SM results with the experimental and FEM results indicates that the models established based on the slab method are reliable. The reasonable parameters determined by using the mathematical models, such as the width of punch, the thickness of billet, the reduction amount etc., may provide a basis for analysis of local loading forming for large-scale rib-web components.