New developments of hydroforming in china

Abstract

This paper reviews the recent developments of hydroforming technology in China. Limited corner radius, ring hoop tension test and tube bulging test were introduced on fundamentals of hydroforming. New hydroforming and hydro-bending process of ultra-thin tubes were investigated. Ultra-thin Y-shaped parts and complex section components were manufactured and applied in aerospace and aviation industry. Applications of tube hydroforming in automotive industry in China are also presented, including the hydroforming machines and production lines, typical automotive parts and potential market. New sheet hydroforming process with controllable radial pressure was proposed to increase the formability of sheets metals. Warm tube and sheet hydroforming were analyzed and discussed. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Metals OVERVIEW.