Investigation Into the Tube-Bending Process by Using Elastomer Available to Purchase

A tube-bending process is presented in the paper, in which an elastomer is employed as an internal pressure transmitting medium. Finite element method is applied to simulate the forming process. Numerical results show that the internal pressure and the friction condition play an important part during the bending process. Experimental research was also performed. It is found that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental values, and an aluminum alloy tubular component with relative bend radius equal to 1 was manufactured without wrinkling and fracturing.