State-of-the-Art of Mathematical Modeling of Sheet Metal Forming of Automotive Body Panels

The last few years have seen an enormous increase in the research, development and, especially, in the application of computer modeling of sheet metal forming operations. This increased industrial use is due to many factors, including: enhanced accuracy and robustness of forming codes, a growing sophistication in their use by engineers, common availability of CAD data for panels, and advances in hardware capability. This paper attempts to describe the current state-of-the art. We begin by offering a brief history of mathematical modeling of sheet forming, and then discuss some of the current formulations of finite element methods. We also speculate on some possible future accomplishments.