Instability analysis of free deformation zone of cylindrical parts based on hot-granule medium-pressure forming technology

The cylindrical part of sheet metal based on hot-granule medium-pressure forming (HGMF) technology was investigated. The stress functions of the free deformation zone and the fracture instability theory were combined to establish the analytical expression of the critical pressure of punch. The results show that the active friction between the granule medium and the sheet metal, as well as the non-uniform internal pressure presented by the solid granule medium, can obviously improve the forming performance of the sheet metal. The critical pressure of punch increases with the increment of the friction coefficient between the granule medium and sheet metal, as well as the plastic strain ratio, whereas it decreases with the increase of the material-hardening exponent. Furthermore, the impact on the critical pressure from high to low order is the plastic strain ratio, the friction coefficient, and material-hardening exponent. The deep-drawing experiment with HGMF technology on AZ31B magnesium alloy sheet verified the instability theory.