Abstract:The pressure distributions generated by vaporizing metal foils were studied. An analytical model which described the dynamic mechanical behavior of a rectangular plate under an impulsive loading was introduced. The formed parts of free bulging tests were analyzed using the optical measurement system. Two measurement methods for pressure distributions were introduced and compared. Both the perforated sheet forming test and the pressure film were found to be effective method to measure pressure distributions. The cost of perforated sheet forming test was cheap and the pressure film was easy to operate. Three different pressure distributions were measured and discussed, namely single pressure distribution, tailored pressure distribution and double-direction pressure distribution. These three pressure distributions could be applied in different metal forming processes.

Key words: pressure distribution; vaporizing foils; sheet metals; impulse forming