Computer simulation for research projects and manufacturing technologies

An Open Lecture by Dr. Donato Sorgente, Associate Professor of University of Basilicata, Italy

The lecture will start presenting the research activities carried out both in the University of Basilicata and in the Politecnico di Bari and mainly related to non-conventional manufacturing processes.

Then we’ll move on the main topic of the talk which will be “Superplastic forming simulation: from the material characterization to the process optimization”. It will be divided in three parts:

1. Inverse analysis for material characterization: how to make a physically-sound inverse calibration of a superplastic material. Some applications on aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloys.
2. Process design by finite element simulation: overcoming the use of a hot platen press machine by a numerically-designed heating system integrated in a superplastic forming die
3. Process optimization: genetic algorithm applied to an automatic procedure to find a suitable geometry for a pre-form die cavity in two-stage superplastic forming.

Then, at the end, we’ll speak about the current activities (both numerical and experimental ones) and about future trends in numerical simulation of the superplastic forming process.