Optimization of Working Conditions During Push Bending Process

Thin-walled tube bending has found many its applications in the automobileand aerospace industries. this process may produce a wrinkling, bulkingand tearing phenomenon if the process parameters are inappropriate, especiallyfor tubes with large diameters and thin wall thicknesses. push bending processis one of the methods used for bending tubular parts. it is a suitable technique tomake considerably small bending radii. the method is perjormed using a rigiddie to guide and form the tube into the required shape while the tube is pushed bya punch. a pressure media is used inside the tube to prevent its wrinkling andbuckling. hyper-elastic (rubber) materials are commonly used as the pressuremedia. this paper presents the pressure distribution within the tube, before andduring the push bending process. theoretical result of pressure distributions iscompared with the finite element simulations. effects of rubber properties on thetube quality are also studied. finally optimum working conditions of process ispredicted by the finite element method and is compared with previously publishedexperimental observations.