Grid Marking and Measurement Methods for Sheet Metal Formability

The process may be simple, such as a bending operation, or a sequence of very

complex operations such as stamping [1]. Several finite-element software packages are
commercially available for sheet metal forming analysis. surface strain measurements
are very important in the analysis of sheet metal forming processes

The principal methods of measuring strain or deformation are grid marking, strain
gages, mechanical and optical extensometers, ultrasound thickness and shape
Measurements. Grid marking is one of the commonly used strain measurement
methods It
consists of a very small diameter circle or square grid pattern (approximately a range
from 1 to 8 mm [7]).

fig1[2]

All of these grid marking methods do not change the intrinsic properties of the material
and are widely used in different experiments related to surface strain analysis [11]

STRAIN MEASUREMENT
Applied grids on the sheet metal should be measured before and after deformation in
order to calculate strains. Thus forming limit diagrams can be constructed based on
surface strain measurements

Strain measurement should be within

the tolerance of ±2.5 % according to ASTM E2218-02 [19].

fig2[2]
Grid marking and strain measurement methods used for determination of sheet metal
formability were investigated and compared in terms of their usability and accuracy.

REFERENCES
[1] Taylor B., 1985, Sheet Formability Testing, Metals
Handbook, 9th ed., Vol. 8, Mechanical Testing,
American Society for Metals, pp. 547-570

[2]5th International Conference and Exhibition on Design

and Production of MACHINES and DIES/MOLDS
18-21 JUNE 2009 Pine Bay Hotel - Kusadasi, Aydin, TURKEY

[7] www.lectroetch.com/GridMarking.PDF

[11] Carasusan E. and Canal F., 2003, An Automated

Procedure for Non-Contact Strain Analysis of Sheet
Metal Parts, Emerging Technologies and Factory
Automation, Vol. 2, Issue 16-19, pp. 724 - 731

[19] ASTM E 2218-02, 2002, Standard Test Method for

Determining Forming Limit Curves