Ideal Flow Design of the Bending of Bi-Material Sheets

The ideal flow theory is an efficient tool for the preliminary design of metal forming processes. The present paper applies this theory to design the bending of bi-material sheets. Generally, ideal flow solutions are not unique and additional criteria are needed to archive uniqueness. The proposed design ensures the sheet's desirable final inner and outer radii. The ideal flow condition determines the unique loading path that transforms the initial configuration into the final configuration.