Simulating the Micro-Clinching Process of Cu-ETP Strips using Finite Element Analysis

This paper presents an inverse approach for calibrating material models used in micro-joining processes through Force-driven Finite Element Model Updating (F-FEMU). Cu-ETP strips in different material conditions—hard-drawn, annealed and chemically treated—were investigated to assess the capability of FEMU to inversely calibrate the material’s work hardening behaviour and friction coefficients, relying solely on experimental force-displacement data of the micro-clinching process. The material model to calibrate was selected through uniaxial tensile tests on the strips. Friction conditions were disentangled by calibrating the hardening parameters using the micro-clinching of a single strip and subsequently validating the identified parameters using the micro-clinching process of two strips. The results indicate that F-FEMU can effectively capture the material behaviour and friction effects for annealed strips using isotropic material models.