Improving the efficiency of the stretching process of aluminum alloy plates

Aluminum alloys are subjected to controlled stretching operation. For non -heat-treated plates of 1xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, and 5xxx aluminum series, the aim is to obtain flatness, and for heat-treated plates (2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series alloys), to obtain the reduction of internal stresses induced by the solution heat treatment. The stretching operation supposes gripping both ends of the plate and pulling the plate in one direction. The initial normal efforts induced by the quenching process were obtained using the Deep-Hole Drilling method (DHD). The model was solved using finite element method (FEM) and the results were confirmed by industrial tests.