Creep forming a metallic component
View Patent ↗A method of creep forming a metallic component is provided. The method includes the steps of applying static loading and cyclic loading and/or vibration to the component during the creep forming thereof to act as a source of additional energy.
1. A method of creep forming a metallic component including the steps of applying a static loading and a cyclic loading to the component during the creep forming thereof, wherein the magnitude of the cyclic loading is less than or equal to 10% of the magnitude of the static loading, wherein the cyclic loading has a frequency of 1 Hz to 1,000 Hz.
2. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 1 wherein the magnitude of the cyclic loading is less than or equal to 5% of the magnitude of the static loading.
3. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 2 wherein the magnitude of the cyclic loading is less than or equal to 2% of the magnitude of the static loading.
4. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 3 wherein the magnitude of the cyclic loading is less than or equal to 1% of the magnitude of the static loading.
5. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 1 wherein a portion of the cyclic loading is vibration.
6. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 1 wherein the cyclic loading has a frequency of 10 Hz to 100 Hz.
7. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 6 wherein the cyclic loading has a frequency of 20 Hz to 50 Hz.
8. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 1 wherein the metallic component is formed from a metal alloy.
9. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 8 wherein the metal alloy is an aluminium alloy.
10. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 1 wherein the metallic component is creep formed during a final stage of heat treatment of a material from which the metallic component is formed.
11. A method of creep forming a metallic component including the steps of applying a static loading and a cyclic loading to the component during the creep forming thereof, wherein the magnitude of the cyclic loading is less than or equal to 10% of the magnitude of the static loading, wherein the cyclic loading is applied to a discrete portion of the component and the cyclic loading is applied to successive portions of the component until substantially the whole component has been creep formed.
12. A method of creep forming a metallic component as in claim 11 in which a said discrete portion of the component is a zone of structural reinforcement of the component.
13. A method of creep forming a metallic component including the steps of:
applying a static loading on the order of 350 MPa; and
simultaneously with the application of said static loading, applying a cyclic loading at a frequency on the order of 40 Hz and a loading on the order of ±5 MPa to the component during the creep forming thereof.
14. A method of creep forming a metallic component according to claim 13 , wherein said metallic component is an aluminum alloy.
15. A method of creep forming a metallic component according to claim 14 , wherein said aluminum alloy is 7150 W51 aluminum alloy.