Improved Formability of Aluminum Aircraft Skin Panels via Electromagnetic Forming

IAP Research proposes to eliminate this costly preliminary heat treating step by using Electromagnetic Forming (EF), a high rate forming process to form aluminum aircraft skin panels in the T4 or T6 condition. EM forming uses electromagnetic forces generated on the aluminum workpiece by a closely coupled magnetic field coil to accelerate the aluminum sheet to velocities of nearly 200 m/s. Recent studies have shown that forming aluminum sheet at these velocities invokes a phenomena called e sheet forming experiments with common aluminum alloys (6061). Plain strain extensions exceeding 70% have been recorded in aluminum alloys formed at room temperature. This exceeds the formability of steels and approached the extensions sought by the superplastic forming of aluminum alloys. IAP Research, Inc. proposes to exploit the city els directly from a T4 or T6 condition using EM forming.