Multi-Layer Aluminum Formability Assessment Using Composite Shells in LS-DYNA® with the Linear Fracture Line Approach

Multi-layer aluminum sheet offers exciting design possibilities for automotive applications due to the outer layer having a ductility that suppresses fracture in drawing processes involving a high degree of bending. Formability assessment of multi-layer aluminum products such as AF200 thus offer a challenge to traditional techniques used in the industry such as Forming Limit Diagrams, owing to this large resistance to bending dominated fracture. A modelling technique using standard LS-DYNA release features is set forth and discussed.