Electromagnetic Force Distribution and Forming Performance in Electromagnetic Forming With Discretely Driven Rings

Electromagnetic forming is a method of high-speed metal workpiece forming technology that uses electromagnetic force pulses generated from the interaction of the magnetic flux density and workpiece induced eddy current. The main challenge of this technology is the control of the eddy current and magnetic flux density to perform various forming processes. This paper is aimed at overcoming this challenge by introducing a new electromagnetic sheet forming method based on discretely driven rings. In this method, a set of discrete conducting rings are placed between the driving coil and the metal workpiece to enhance the shaping process of the workpiece. By changing the number and position of the rings, the induced eddy current can be adjusted, and different electromagnetic force distribution profiles can be realized. COMSOL software is used to develop an electromagnetic field-structure coupling model of the proposed electromagnetic forming method. The characteristics of the electromagnetic force distribution and its effect on the workpiece forming process are analyzed. Results show that the electromagnetic force distribution profile can be controlled by adjusting the rings physical parameters such as diameter, material, and position. The proposed method can effectively improve the performance of the conventional electromagnetic forming technology and has the potential for implementation in wide industry applications.