Process and materials modeling in metal forming

Information technology and computer simulations have drastically altered the process of designing materials, products and manufacturing operations in recent years. In metal forming, numerical simulations help - to save time and expenses by reducing the need for experimental trials, - to forecast and improve properties that cannot be measured on-line, such as the microstructure evolution of a material during processing and - to explore new set-ups as well as new settings in known processes that are not easily accessible experimentally, e. g. if this would require new equipment. Industrial needs have been a constant driver for innovation in the numerical simulation of both sheet and bulk metal forming processes. The automotive industry is an excellent example where sheet metal parts and the corresponding manufacturing processes are designed ‘virtually’ before expensive tool sets are built.