Predictions of Forming Limit Diagram for AISI 316 LN-Austenitic Stainless Steel

Many of the stainless steel components ore manufactured through forming. Therefore on understanding of formability sheet metal is essential for successful prediction of quality stomping. In the present work, the forming limit of AISI 316LN stainless steel has been evaluated using the hemispherical punch forming test. The experimental forming limit diagram is compared with theoretical models of Swift, Hill and Sing Roo for validation. Sheet metal forming simulation was performed using the finite element software. The solution methodology was based on explicit time integration. A failure criterion has been introduced based on localized necking for the prediction of forming limit. The finite element predictions seem to be in good correlation with experimental results of AISI 316LN stainless steel. An error analysis on the FE-predictions was performed and the percentage deviation was found to vary between 0.28 and 12.24%. Theoretical models ore not predicting well with the experimental forming limit diagram.