Study on the Thermal Sensitivity of Anisotropic Thin Sheets: Application to Hot Bulge Tests

This article presents a study on the thermal sensitivity of anisotropic thin sheets, focusing specifically on their behavior during hot bulge tests. Anisotropic materials exhibit different mechanical properties in different directions, and understanding their response to thermal loading is crucial for various engineering applications. The experimental investigation involves subjecting thin sheets of anisotropic materials to controlled thermal conditions and measuring their response. The hot bulge test, a well-established method, is employed to analyze the behavior of the sheets under elevated temperatures. This test involves applying a controlled internal pressure to a heated circular and elliptical specimen, causing it to deform and form a bulge. Through this study, the thermal sensitivity of anisotropic thin sheets is characterized by analyzing the bulge height, bulge profile, and strain distribution. The influence of various factors, such as temperature, material anisotropy, and loading rate, is examined to understand their effects on the sheet's response. Experimental results reveal significant variations in the thermal sensitivity of anisotropic thin sheets, depending on the material's orientation and temperature. The study demonstrates that certain orientations exhibit greater sensitivity to thermal loading, leading to distinct bulge profiles and strain distributions. Furthermore, numerical simulations are conducted using finite element analysis to validate and complement the experimental findings. The simulation models incorporate the anisotropic material properties and the thermal boundary conditions, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the thermal sensitivity behavior observed experimentally. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into the thermal behavior of anisotropic thin sheets, particularly in the context of hot bulge tests. The findings contribute to the knowledge base of material characterization and can aid in the design and optimization of structures and components subjected to thermal loading, where anisotropic materials are involved.