Effects of Loading Paths on the Progressive Stamping Process of Tube Fins for Heat Exchangers

ZHU Mengchen; LI Wenxia; CHENG Huan; ZHANG Baishun; WANG Yang; LI Ping

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.025

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1) : 266-275. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.025

Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Equipment

Effects of Loading Paths on the Progressive Stamping Process of Tube Fins for Heat Exchangers

ZHU Mengchen¹, LI Wenxia¹, CHENG Huan¹, ZHANG Baishun², WANG Yang², LI Ping^2,*

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Abstract

To clarify the effect of loading paths and blank shapes on the metal flow patterns and the final forming quality during the progressive deep drawing process, the work aims to study the first stage of progressive deep drawing of the fins through finite element simulations. Finite element simulations were conducted for a single press of one or multiple punches with rectangular or circular blanks. Based on the results, the flow patterns of the metal during deep drawing and the effect of loading paths on forming quality were analyzed. Under equal drawing depth conditions, single-punch forming generated higher maximum major strain and thinning rate compared to multi-punch systems, although both exhibited similar strain gradient distributions. Due to anisotropy effects, circular blanks showed significantly differentiated strain distributions during single-bump forming. However, when bump density increased, the effect of the blank shape on strain diminished. Loading paths primarily regulate strain/thickness variation, while geometric parameters of blanks dominantly govern strain distribution patterns. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing thin-walled fin forming processes.

Key words

fin / progressive stamping / loading path / finite element simulation / deformation behavior

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ZHU Mengchen, LI Wenxia, CHENG Huan, ZHANG Baishun, WANG Yang, LI Ping. Effects of Loading Paths on the Progressive Stamping Process of Tube Fins for Heat Exchangers[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(1): 266-275 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.025

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Funding

University-Regional Collaborative Industrial Innovation Guidance Fund Project (JZ2023YDZJ0349); Anhui Provincial Major Science and Technology Project (2022e03020007)