Inverse Analysis of Forming Processes Based on FORGE Environment
Résumé
In the field of materials forming processes, the use of simulation coupled with optimization is a powerful numerical tool to support design in industry and research. The finite element software Forge®, a reference in the field of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulation of forging processes, has been coupled to an automatic optimization engine. The optimization method is based on meta-model assisted evolutionary algorithm. It allows solving complex optimization problems quickly. This paper is dedicated to a specific application of optimization, inverse analysis. In a first stage, a range of reverse analysis applications are considered such as material rheological and tribological characterization, identification of heat transfer coefficients and, finally, the estimation of Time Temperature Transformation curves based on existing Continuous Cooling Transformation diagrams for steel quenching simulation. In a second part, a novel inverse analysis application is presented in the field of cold sheet forming, the identification of the material anisotropic constitutive parameters that allow matching with the final shape of the component after stamping. The advanced numerical methods used in this kind of complex simulations are described along with the obtained optimization results. This article shows that automatic optimization coupled with Forge® can solve many inverse analysis problems and is a valuable tool for supporting development and design of metals forming processes.