Electromagnetic forming is one of the high-rate forming methods that can be extensively used to form and join axisymmetric metal sheet and tube. Tendency of homogeneous radial deformation during electromagnetic compression of aluminium tube was investigated through the design optimization method based on sequential coupling numerical simulation and experiments. The results show that the tendency depends on the length ratio of tube to coil (R), which has a critical value (Rc) corresponding to the relatively homogeneous radial deformation along axial direction. The tube length relative to Rc is insensitive to the discharge voltage. When R is greater than Rc, the deformed tube presents horn shape and the shorter coil makes for local deformation. If R is less than Rc, the deformed tube presents drum shape and the longer coil contributes to larger deformation at tube end. Rc increases with coli length and could approach to 1; inversely, it could approach to 0. These results indicate the design optimization method based on the sequential coupling numerical simulation is feasible, which can be used to realize the controllable and precise deformation of metal tube.
The effects of the length of solenoid coil on tube compression in electromagnetic forming were investigated either by theory analysis or through sequential coupling numerical simulation. The details of the electromagnetic and the mechanical models in the simulation were described. The results show that the amplitude of coil current waveform and the current frequency decrease with the increase of the coil length. And the peak value of magnetic pressure is inversely proportional to the coil length. The distribution of the magnetic force acting on the tube is inhomogeneous while the tube is longer than the coil. The shortened coil length causes the increases of the maximum deformation and energy efficiency. The numerically calculated result and the experimental one of the final tube profile are in good agreement.
