A forming time estimator of superplastic free bulge tests based on dimensional analysis

Abstract

Dimensional analysis is performed as a method to evaluate the characteristics of superplastic forming processes. The analysis is focused on the forming time results from superplastic free bulge tests so that an estimator for the forming time is obtained based on dimensionless parameters. The dimensional analysis is performed by applying the normalisation to the dynamic equations and their corresponding boundary conditions, from which five dimensionless parameters are obtained. Particular conditions of the tests allow to reduce the parameters to two. This preliminary study of the applicability of the dimensional analysis on superplastic forming processes will guide for further steps in which this technique may help during the initial stages of the process layout.