The Enhanced Formability Project was initiated on the basis of press shop observations that parts with strains substantially in excess of conventional as-received forming limit curves (FLCs) could be successfully produced in large volume without breakage. In these
cases, the apparent increase in the as-received FLC was observed in areas of the part that had been subjected to bending and unbending through drawbeads as steel moved off a binder. Conducted by Dr. Stuart Keeler, the research program generated predictive equations for use in the press shops and to provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the enhanced FLC effect.
