A comparison flow stress curve of hydraulic bulge test and uniaxial tensile test of SS304

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find the relation between stress and strain, called as the Flow Stress Curve, for 0.4 mm thickness stainless steel (SS 304). Two main methods are used: the Uniaxial tensile test, and the Hydraulic Bulge Test (HBT). The relation between stress and strain from both methods would then be compared and simulated into cubic-shaped models by using Finite Element method. Results show that sheet metal formation simulated by using the flow stress curve obtained from Hydraulic bulge test can have the height of up to 40 millimeters before the work piece starts to lacerate. On the other hand, if the flow stress curve obtained from Uniaxial tensile test is used, the work piece will only be able to form about 15 millimeters before lacerating. The preliminary summary for this research can be said that the analysis for Hydraulic bulge test gives better results than Uniaxial tensile test, as it has similar conditions to the actual formation process.