Project Description
Key Information
- EU funding: € 2.35 Million
- Total budget: € 4.74 Million
- Duration: 83 months [May 2016 – August 2021]

Background: The design of sheet metal forming processes is nowadays done virtually, i.e. by computer simulations. A limitation in these simulations is the assumption of a constant friction value over the course of the process, while in reality a temperature increase of 40°C in the tool – during the start-up of the production line – impacts on the tribology between the tool and sheet material, leading to a friction increase of up to 25 % and product failures as a result. The control of these effects is currently done reactively, by trial-and-error approaches, based on the individual experience of the machine operators, rather than by using automated, adaptive control systems. The current practice therefore results in process instability, high costs and slow process development. Moreover, with the increasing use of advanced steel grades, which generate more heat purely due to their strength, predicting and controlling the influence of temperature on friction becomes critical for the concerned industries.
The ASPECT project, funded by the programme INTERREG North-West Europe, aims to create a robust framework to predict friction increase with temperature and to develop a control system that can instantaneously correct the applied forces to account for the sensed friction increase.
M2i is leading the ASPECT consortium and has been carrying out the following tasks:
- (WP P) Project initiation: proposal coordination and writing, consortium building
- (WP M) Project management and contact point with the funding organisation
- (WP T.1) Implementing methods to achieve faster thermo-coupled FE simulations
- (WP C) Survey to identify research and industry organization interested in ASPECT results
- (WP LT) Promoting actions to support diffusion of project results towards target groups
Project Partners:
- Stichting Materials Innovation Institute (M2i), The Netherlands – Lead Partner
- Triboform Engineering BV, The Netherlands
- ESI GROUP, France
- Falex Tribology NV, Belgium
- Universiteit Twente, The Netherlands
- Zeller+Gmelin GmbH, Germany
- Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV, The Netherlands
- INSPIRE AG, Switzerland
- Opel Automobile GmbH, Germany
- Philips Consumer Lifestyle BV, The Netherlands
- AutomotiveNL, The Netherlands
- Pôle EMC2, France
- Dr. FILZEK TRIBOtech, Germany
- ESI Software GmbH, Germany
Expected results:
- Numerical model to predict friction variation based on real process conditions;
- Fully-automated forming demonstrators for Automotive and Consumer goods applications;
- Joint demonstration facility, open for training and education;
- Guidelines to improve the material, tool and lubricant design.
For more information please visit ASPECT webpage at: www.nweurope.eu/aspect
Contact person M2i
News
Register now for the ASPECT Final event
On 15 June 2021, the final event of the INTERREG project ASPECT will mark the end of the project. ASPECT has enabled the prediction and control of temperature-induced effects on
Final event ASPECT at ESAFORM 2020
From 4 to 6 May 2020, the ESAFORM Conference was organised for the first time as on-line conference. In its frame, the ASPECT consortium held a mini-symposium “Tribology in Sheet
Conference on Material Forming ESAFORM 2020
The 23rd International Conference on Material Forming ESAFORM 2020 will take place virtually on 4th-6th May 2020
Course on tribological influences in sheet metal forming
On 18-19 February 2020, the University of Twente organised the course “Fundamentals of Tribology in Sheet metal forming”, a dedicated training for engineers and researchers interested in the prediction and
Release ASPECT movie
This movie was made with the aim to inform the public about the problem that the ASPECT project tackles and the solutions created during the project.
Coming up: ASPECT course on Fundamental Tribology in Sheet Metal Forming
On the 18-19 February 2020, Twente University, partner in the ASPECT consortium led by M2i, is organising the course: “Fundamentals of Tribology in Sheet Metal Forming”.