One Step Forward to Electrically Assisted Forming Mechanisms and Computer Simulation: A Review

The electrically assisted forming (EAF) is a hybrid manufacturing process that utilizes electric current energy to improve the productivity and efficiency of the forming process. Many studies have been accomplished to investigate the effect of process parameters on its forming abilities, including pulse current effect, grain size, and current duration. There is currently a lack of agreement on the underlying mechanisms of the electroplastic effect to the formability of metallic materials through EAF, specifically on the Joule heating and electric wind's contributions. One promising solution to this dilemma is the application of computer simulation techniques for a better understanding of the physics of EAF. Therefore, this paper provides a brief review of the previous research studying the modeling of EAF and offers new solutions aiming to further the understanding of the underlying physics of this process through computer simulation approaches.