Springback evaluation in hot v-bending of Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheets

In this paper, v-bending of Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheet was conducted from room temperature to 850 °C at a fixed velocity of 0.1 mm/s. Punches with punch radii of 1, 2, 4, and 6 mm, as well as several holding times were used. V-bending and springback behaviors were numerically analyzed with an isotropic hardening model that considered rate-dependent effects. Using a punch radius of 1 mm always leads to negative springback in the temperature range of 550–750 °C. This behavior occurs because an arc formed in the transition side near the end of bending and flattened at the end of bending, leading to an internal bending moment which causes specimen to bow inward after unloading. At a punch radius of 2 mm, positive springback occurs at 300–650 °C, while negative springback occurs at 700–750 °C. At punch radii of 4 and 6 mm, positive springback occurs at 600–750 °C, and the angle decreases as temperature increases. At 850 °C, negative springback occurs at a punch radius of 4 mm due to the decrease in yield strength. At a punch radius of 1 mm, cracking occurs at room temperature and 500 °C, while at 2 mm, it occurs only at room temperature. This discrepancy is ascribed to the greater plastic deformation caused by the smaller punch. As holding time increases, the shape of the deformed specimen more closely matches the desired shape.