Press-Formed Bulging Parts With Bent Flanges to Suppress Springback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press-forming methods for high-strength steel sheets suffer from significant springback, leading to defects in welding and appearance quality, particularly in low-rigidity parts with varying stress states and complex shapes, which conventional stress reduction methods fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A press-forming method that involves folding the flange of excess material to form straight sides, preferably in an L or Z shape, and holding the bent flange portion between dies to suppress material inflow, enhancing rigidity and reducing springback through bending and unbending resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional press-forming methods are used for high-strength steel sheets, then material strength and rigidity are improved, but springback increases causing poor shape fixability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial strengthVSAvoidshape fixability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The method applies preliminary compressive stress to the flange portion before final press forming by forming an intermediate product with a smaller radius of curvature. This preliminary action creates a stress state that counteracts the springback tendency during subsequent forming, improving shape fixability while maintaining material strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method changes the radius of curvature parameter in the intermediate product to be smaller than the final product shape. This parameter change creates a stress distribution that, when released during final forming, produces compressive stress in the flange portion to suppress springback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If stress reduction methods are applied to suppress springback, then shape fixability improves, but material rigidity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespringback suppressionVSAvoidmaterial rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The method applies stress reduction measures locally to the flange portion rather than uniformly across the entire sheet. By forming an intermediate product with specific curvature characteristics, compressive stress is generated specifically in the flange portion where springback occurs, without compromising the overall material rigidity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If intermediate products are formed with smaller radius of curvature, then springback is reduced, but forming complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespringback reductionVSAvoidforming process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate product with smaller radius of curvature serves as a preliminary form that is subsequently expanded to the final shape. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by pre-establishing the stress distribution needed for springback suppression, making the final forming step more controlled and predictable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively suppresses springback, improves material yield, and enhances the accuracy of press-formed products by minimizing distortion and waste, allowing for precise final product shaping without distortion.

Implementation Method 1

suppress material inflow during a second press forming by bending and unbending resistance of the bent flange portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

press forming a sheet-shaped material into a press-formed product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasticity: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3909697B1Press-forming method, method for manufacturing press-molded article
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP3909697B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~2(i)
  • EP3909697B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3909697B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Proposed is a method for manufacturing a press-formed product, which is used in manufacturing a press-formed product with a bulging portion from a sheet-shaped material including a blanking step of blanking from the sheet-shaped material into a shape in which an excess material portion is added to the contour outline of a developed shape of the press-formed product, a first pressing step of folding the excess material portion to form straight sides into an intermediate formed product with a bent flange portion, a second pressing step of performing press forming including bulging in which the bulging portion is provided on the intermediate formed product, and a trimming step of trimming the excess material portion. Provided also are a blank material that includes excess material portion to be folded to form straight sides circumscribed around or spaced apart from a contour outline of a developed shape of the press-formed product, and an intermediate formed product that includes excess material portion including a bent flange portion folded to form straight sides.