Hole Expansion in a Variety of Sheet Steels

Expanding pierced holes is a common forming practice and problems during these operations are not unusual. A damczyk and Michal have previously developed an equation for maximum hole expansion of HSLA steels, for holes in the sheared then deburred condition. This paper expands the work of the above authors. Nineteen ferritic, ferritic stainless, and austenitic stainless steels were evaluated for hole expansion using various hole-edge conditions. It was found that the behavior of steels having finished holes is very different than those tested in the as-sheared condition. Relationships between hole expansion and tensile-mechanical properties were developed for both conditions.