ABSTRACT
Metal forming processes involve applying mechanical force through a tooling system to a workpiece to change its shape permanently (deform it plastically) to the required shape which is predetermined by the die geometry. Additionally, these processes lead to higher mechanical properties of the product through control of the crystal structure of the material to be formed. Therefore, comprehensive understanding the fundamentals of metal forming processes should comprise both the mechanical aspects and metallurgical aspects. Mechanical aspects include the analyses of forces, stresses, strains, strain rates, plastic deformation, work hardening, and limiting stress and strain conditions for the ¨ow of metal during the process. Metallurgical aspects, on the other hand, include the effect of plastic deformation under different temperatures on the crystal structure of the material, and accordingly, on the resulting mechanical properties. Details of both aspects are presented in this chapter.
