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Abstract Incremental sheet metal forming is known for its high flexibility, making it suitable for fabricating low-batch, highly customized complex parts. In this article, a localized multipass toolpath referred to as localized reforming, with reverse forming in a region of interest, is employed within the double-sided incremental forming (DSIF) process to manipulate the mechanical properties of a truncated pyramid formed from austenitic stainless steel sheet, SS304, through deformation-induced martensite transformation. DSIF forms a clamped sheet through localized deformations by two opposing tools. The toolpath effect in localized reforming is examined in terms of martensite transformation, geometrical accuracy, and thickness distribution. The results are compared with a conventional toolpath, i.e., forming in a single pass. The results show that varying toolpaths lead to different martensite transformation levels, while final geometry and thickness remain similar. The study demonstrates that localized reforming significantly increases martensite transformation in the specified region, i.e., the center of the pyramid wall, to ∼70%, with a martensite fraction remaining around 25% elsewhere. In comparison, using a single pass forming toolpath leads to a decreasing martensite fraction from the base of the pyramid toward the apex, due to the heat generated, with values <10% along the entire wall. Through finite element simulation, it is shown that the increase in martensite transformation of the region of interest is with the plastic deformation accumulation during the reverse pass. These findings highlight the potential to tailor mechanical properties in specific areas using a reforming toolpath in DSIF. 

To investigate the microstructural changes that occur in stainless steel (SS) 304 during single point incremental forming (SPIF), experiments and finite element (FE) simulations were conducted for a truncated square pyramid geometry. Results from material characterization experiments for four stress states, i.e., uniaxial tension, equibiaxial tension, shear, and uniaxial compression, were combined to construct a material model based on the constituent phases and transformation kinetics. The material model was implemented into numerical analyses, where a two-step FE approach was utilized to predict martensite transformation in SPIF with increased computational efficiency. Validation experiments showed good agreement with the martensite transformation predictions from the FE simulations. The four locations along the pyramid wall revealed varying martensite volume fractions because of the differing stress states of bending, stretching, and shear that the blank is subjected to during SPIF, which can affect the microstructure. The stress state can be defined in terms of the stress triaxiality and Lode angle parameter. The FE results indicate that stress triaxiality impacted the martensitic transformation kinetics in SS304 more than the Lode angle parameter for SPIF for this particular material and geometry. Thus, distinct stress states in incremental forming can affect the martensitic transformation locally and, when used strategically, achieve functionally graded materials. This is pertinent to industrial applications requiring custom components, e.g., trauma fixation hardware for medical applications. 

 

Abstract Recent advancements have significantly enhanced the capabilities for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), to develop infrastructure in orbit and on the surface of celestial bodies. This progress is a departure from the traditional sustainability paradigm focused solely on Earth, highlighting the urgent need to define and operationalize the concept of “space sustainability” along with the development of an evaluation framework. The expansion of human activity into space, particularly in low-earth orbit, cis-lunar space, and beyond, underscores the critical importance of considering sustainability implications. Leveraging space resources offers economic growth and sustainable development opportunities, while reducing pressure on Earth’s ecosystems. This paradigm shift requires responsible and ethical utilization of space resources. A space sustainability assessment framework is essential for guiding ISAM capabilities, operations, missions, standards, and policies. This paper introduces an initial framework encompassing (1) pollution, (2) resource depletion, (3) landscape alteration, and (4) space environmental justice, with potential metrics (resources use and emissions, midpoint, and endpoint indicators) to measure impacts in the four domains. 

This study presents a novel machine learning approach for predicting the anisotropic parameters of the Yld20002d non-quadratic yield function using a hole expansion test. Heterogeneous stress-strain fields during the test substitute for multiple experiments required in the conventional parameter identification approach. An artificial neural network model for the parameter prediction is developed using a virtually generated training dataset composed of strains from hole expansion simulations, performed using randomly selected anisotropic parameters. The developed model predicts the Yld20002d parameters for AA6022-T4 based on the measured strain field from a hole expansion experiment, and the parameter results are evaluated by comparing anisotropy in uniaxial tension tests, the yield locus, and thinning variation in hole expansion test. 

A multi-interpolation method is proposed to determine the displacement trajectory along each axis of a cruciform specimen with the goal of achieving a linear stress path, corresponding to a constant stress triaxiality, in the center of the custom-designed, non-standard specimen during in-plane biaxial testing. Finite element simulations are used to obtain the stress path from the given displacement trajectory, which is the displacement histories imposed on the specimen loading arms. In every iteration, the displacement trajectory is updated using the interpolation between the target stress path and adjacent ones on each side of the curve. The iterations are repeated until a linearity tolerance is satisfied. In this study, the material is an austenitic stainless steel, SS316L, with the Hockett–Sherby isotropic hardening model and Yld2004-18p non-quadratic anisotropic yield function. The method is demonstrated for five stress states between pure shear and equibiaxial tension. The results show the successful determination of a displacement trajectory for the non-standard cruciform specimen so that a linear stress path and constant triaxiality at the area of interest are achieved. 

Double-sided incremental forming (DSIF) is a die-less sheet metal forming process capable of fabricating complex parts. The flexibility of DSIF can be used for in-situ mechanical properties alteration, e.g., by controlling deformation-induced martensite transformation of austenitic stainless steels. In this paper, SS304L is deformed using DSIF at three different cooling conditions and two different tool paths to affect the martensite transformation. Additionally, finite element analyses were used to understandthe effect of tool paths on springback and plastic strain. Implementing a reforming tool path at the lowest achievable temperature resulted in a martensite volume fraction as high as 95%.