A multi-step assembly process: drawing, flanging and hemming of metallic sheets

LIMATB, Université de Bretagne-Sud, 56321 Lorient, France

^a e-mail: pierre-yves.manach@univ-ubs.fr

Abstract

This paper presents hemming tests on complex geometries, combining curved surfaces and radii of curvature in the plane. The samples are firstly prestrained in order to obtain a strain history prior to flanging and hemming. The choice of the sample geometries as well as prior plastic strains is based on a survey of current geometries hemmed in automotive doors. A device has been designed to hem these samples both by classical and roll-hemming processes and to allow a comparison between both technologies. Roll-in, which characterizes the change of geometry of the hemmed zone between flanging and hemming, and loads are obtained during this multistep process. Results show that roll-in observed in roll-hemming is lower than in classical hemming and that its evolution greatly differs between the two processes. The analysis of the results on different samples shows that it is difficult to establish rules on the variation of other parameters in such a complex multistep process and that it requires an intensive use of numerical simulation.