In the field of complex stamping processes, a research team collaborated with China Railway 16th Bureau Group to address challenges associated with high-speed railway rail-seat formwork-specifically its complex geometry, deep and uneven drawing depth, and susceptibility to cracking and wrinkling. By integrating sheet metal forming theory with numerical simulation software, the team successfully developed the first domestically produced deep-drawing process and die set, which were subsequently deployed on the Beijing-Tianjin High-Speed Railway; related research also encompassed topics such as soft-tooling forming for Audi B-pillar panels.
Regarding finite element simulation and analysis of thin steel sheet stamping, researchers established an ANSYS finite element model to investigate how material phase transformation affects the elastic modulus and, consequently, springback behavior during stamping. Numerical simulations provided data on stress and strain variations throughout the forming process, offering a theoretical basis for predicting and optimizing thin steel sheet stamping operations.
In terms of material and process enhancements, hot-stamped thin steel sheets are evolving toward higher strength levels; while traditional hot-stamping steels typically feature a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa, newly developed variants achieve 1,800 MPa while maintaining an elongation of approximately 7.6%. Furthermore, the application of innovative technologies-such as direct water cooling-has tripled hot-stamping production efficiency.