Superplastic forming

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Superplastic forming is an industrial process used for creating precise and complex components out of superplastic materials.

Process

The material is first heated up to promote

blow forming, and vacuum forming.[1]
Inert gas pressure is applied on the superplastic sheet forcing it into a female die.

Advantages and disadvantages

The major advantage of this process is that it can form large and complex workpieces in one operation. The finished product has excellent precision and a fine

F-15 in the 1980s,[citation needed] while in Europe an example of application can be found in some Eurofighter Typhoon assemblies [2][3]
(e.g. engine bays panels, foreplanes, slats).

The largest disadvantage of the process is its slow forming rate. Cycle times vary from two minutes to two hours, therefore it is usually used in low volume production applications.[4][1] Another disadvantage is the non-uniformity of the produced part thickness.[5] Several methods are used to improve the thickness uniformity of SPF parts. One is to apply a designed varying gas pressure profile instead of a constant pressure.[6] Another approach is to tailor the contact friction between the die surface and the superplastic sheet.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-471-65653-4
    .
  2. ^ Hoyle, Craig (May 2007). "Eurofighter production techniques boost BAE Systems". FlightGlobal.
  3. ^ "Airbus Defence and Space Aerostructures presentation brochure" (PDF). Airbus Defence and Space Aerostructures. February 2021.
  4. ISSN 1662-9752
    .
  5. ^ F. Jarrar, M. Liewald, P. Schmid, and A. Fortanier, Superplastic Forming of Triangular Channels with Sharp Radii, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2014, 23(4), p 1313-1320.
  6. ^ F.S. Jarrar, L.G. Hector Jr., M.K. Khraisheh, and K. Deshpande, Gas Pressure Profile Prediction from Variable Strain Rate Deformation Paths in AA5083 Bulge Forming, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2012, 21(11), p 2263–2273.
  7. ^ 12. M.I. Albakri, F.S. Jarrar, and M.K. Khraisheh, Effects of Interfacial Friction Distribution on the Superplastic Forming of AA5083, Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 2011, 133, p 031008-031014.


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