Sheet Thickness Optimization for Superplastic Forming of Engineering Structures

This paper explores two optimization strategies; the gradient search and proportional control methods, for determining the initial sheet thickness of superplastic forming to ensure final desired part thickness. A hemispherical dome model was involved in the testing of both optimization methods. Also, a three-dimensional rectangular box model was optimized by the proportional control method. The gradient search technique is shown to be acceptable in terms of the optimized thickness obtained, but displays poor convergence rates. The proportional control approach presented is easy to be implemented, and yields not only more accurate sheet thickness, but much higher convergence speeds that makes such optimization possible on complex geometric models. [S1087-1357(00)01001-7]