3. Characterization of sheet metal formability

3.1 Simulation tests

When sheet metal processing by stamping began to take on truly industrial dimensions (early 20th century), quality problems led users and manufacturers to develop tests enabling them to judge the quality of sheet metal with regard to forming. The idea naturally arose of carrying out tests on a small scale, similar to those performed in the stamping industry. These tests are known as simulation tests.

Their number is impressive - certainly over a hundred - but very few have survived the test of time. We will therefore only mention the main ones, which are still in limited use, often for functions that were not originally intended. They can be classified according to the dominant deformation mode they characterize.

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