Simulation of Pipe-Manufacturing Processes Using Sheet Bending-Flattening

In this study, a suitable method to simulate pipe-manufacturing processes (i.e., bending, unbending, and flattening) was developed to reproduce the process and the mechanical properties of the pipe. To verify the reliability of the strain distribution and plastic deformation behavior predicted by the proposed method, experimentally-derived strain by digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element analyses were employed. Hardness and tensile tests were performed on bent-flattened specimens. The finite element method confirmed that the proposed method can predict the yield strength of pipes.