Beta features include Solid elements for blanks, tailor-welded blanks, non-linear friction, and a new forming material (*Mat_320) to increase overall simulation efficiency.
Beta Features Disclaimer
Note: This is beta documentation for one or more beta software features.
Beta features are considered unreleased and have not been fully tested nor fully validated. The results are not guaranteed by Ansys, Inc. (Ansys) to be correct. You assume the risk of using beta features.
At its discretion, Ansys may release, change, or withdraw beta features in future revisions.
Beta features are not subject to the Ansys Class 3 error reporting system. Ansys makes no commitment to resolve defects reported against beta features; however, your feedback will help us improve the quality of the product.
Ansys does not guarantee that database and/or input files used with beta features will run successfully from version to version of the software, nor with the final released version of the features. You may need to modify the database and/or input files before running them on other versions.
Documentation for beta features is called beta documentation, and it may not be written to the same standard as documentation for released features. Beta documentation may not be complete at the time of product release. At its discretion, Ansys may add, change, or delete beta documentation at any time.
Solid Elements for Blanks
You may now use solid elements instead of shell elements for your blank. Using a solid element can improve the accuracy of your simulation, especially simulations involving bending or those involving a thicker blank. The feature also allows you to better visualize through-thickness stress and strain and material flow in complex forming simulations.
From the Blank tab in the Design-n task panel, click.
Input the number of layers you will see in the graphics window.
Considerations for solid blanks:
Solid blanks currently only support the Barlat’2000 yield function (MAT_133).
While this feature is in development, we recommend using blanks with a geometrical tool surface offset already defined for the most consistent results.
Tailor-Welded Blanks
In some cases, manufacturers may weld together two or more metal sheets to optimize strength, weight, and material usage during forming. Ansys Forming now supports multiple weld lines, adaptive refinement along welds, adaptive meshes, and meshes with internal boundaries.
From the Blank tab in the Design-n task panel, click the arrow next to the icon (plus sign) and select .
In the Define by Points task panel, click or depending on your preference and then click .
Select your part(s) from the graphics window or feature tree, and click .
Under Pick Options, click or and split your part.
Click . The application displays your newly created blank segments as separate entities in the Design-n task panel.
Click to define the material for each segment.
Non-Linear Friction
In sheet metal forming simulation, non-linear friction refers to a friction model where the friction coefficient is not constant but varies based on local conditions. If you select, import, or define a material model with non-linear friction, you may now input pressure, velocity, and temperature-dependent friction data inside the material card.
To access this feature, from the Material Viewer or Material Editor, in the Material Type column, click and then click the Friction.
*MAT_320
You can now access a new material model, *MAT_320. Use this model to improve the performance of plasticity models while generalizing the input.
The parameters IPHI and ITHETA, stored as spherical coordinates (φ,θ), define the descretization of the yield surface. IPHI determines the number of angular divisions in the φ direction while ITHETA determins that in the θ direction.
Currently *MAT_320 is supported for following materials:
Table 1: Materials Supported by *MAT_320
| MAT_36 | *MAT_3-PARAMETER_BARLAT | Barlat'89 |
| MAT_37 | *MAT_TRANSVERSELY_ANISOTROPIC_ELASTIC_PLASTIC | Hill'48 |
| MAT_122 | *MAT_HILL_3R | Hill'48 |
| MAT_133 | *MAT_BARLAT_YLD2000 | Barlat'2000 |
| MAT_136 | *MAT_VEGTER_STANDARD |
Vegter Standard |