Combined numerical and experimental study to predict the forming limit curve of boron steel sheets at elevated temperatures

The aim of this study involved evaluating and predicting forming limit curves of boron steel 22MnB5 sheet at elevated temperatures. A finite-element method simulation was adopted based on ductile fracture criteria and simple experiments at elevated temperatures. First, tensile experimental data and ductile fracture criterions of Johnson–Cook and ductile void growth models were input to ABAQUS/Explicit software to predict and compare the same with fracture occurrence in experiments performed via Hecker’s punch stretching tests at room temperature. Subsequently, punch stretching test data at room temperature were added to correct the fracture strain locus in the space of the stress triaxiality and the equivalent strain following the ductile void growth model. After confirming the accuracy of the forming limit curve prediction at room temperature, fracture strain loci at high temperatures using ductile void growth model were determined based on the average ratio between the fracture equivalent plastic strains at room temperature as well as higher temperatures. Finally, Hecker’s punch stretching tests were numerically simulated to predict forming limit curve(s) of boron steel 22MnB5 sheet at high temperatures.