Fundamentals of Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) Testing
 Testing_FADI-AMT.webp "Hole Expansion Ratio testing_FADI-AMT")
Engineering products often contain specially shaped steel sheet parts; these parts are created using
various forming processes such as shearing,
punching, and stamping. In order to develop the proper part forming process, engineers must know how the
material behaves under the anticipated
forming conditions. These aspects of material behavior are called formability, and a wide variety of
tests have been created to assess formability.
One such test is the Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) test, and it is focused on a particular aspect of
formability that is specific to edge failure.
This article will cover the basics of HER testing, including theory, equipment, methods, results, and
testing standards.
Relevance: Why Hole Expansion Ratio Testing?
One of the most common stresses associated with sheet metal forming is edge stretching. When metal
parts are punched and then stamped,
the edges must stretch to accommodate the change in shape being forced by the forming equipment.
Stretching the edges of a sheet metal
part too much can lead to highly undesirable results like cracking, potentially ruining the part.
Therefore, manufacturers require good
predictions for when cracking will begin under certain types of edge stretching. These predictions
can come from theoretical models,
but testing is also a crucial component. The Hole Expansion Ratio (HER) test is designed to show the
cracking behavior for a metallic
sheet with a circular hole under uniform stretching. This forming scenario is especially relevant in
the “automotive industry”, where
many parts are manufactured using stamping that follows hole punching.
Courtesy of Azuko Technical Instinute
HER Testing Equipment
Like other sheet metal tests, such as Biaxial Tension Testing and FLC Testing, the HER test
requires two fundamental forces: clamp and punch forces.
Any test machine capable of producing these two forces independently can be used; that being
said, HER testing does not require large forces.
A Universal Formability Tester (UFT), a compact and self-contained piece of equipment driven by hydraulic cylinders that control the clamp and the
punch forces, is typically used for HER testing. A dual-acting hydraulic press can also be used, but hydraulic presses are typically larger and more powerful machines than are required for HER testing. An electromechanical load frame equipped with independent hydraulic clamping system can be also
used for this testing.
The only sensor necessary for HER testing is simply the means to monitor the test sample for cracking. This is most often done with one high resolution camera mounted atop the testing machine and facing downwards toward the deforming
sample. During the test, the camera gives the testing engineer a real-time view of sample deformation, enabling the test to be terminated when cracking begins. Measuring forces or movement during HER testing is not required.
HER Testing Setup at FADI-AMT
HER Test Sample Geometry
The sample geometry for the HER test is very straightforward, but the specifics of sample
preparation can have large effects on testing results.
Each HER sample is simply a square blank, ~90 to 100mm in size, with a small hole (10mm in
diameter) introduced close to the center of the blank.
To mimic actual sheet metal forming processes, the hole is typically formed by punching. One of
the most important factors determining the
outcome of an HER test is the quality of hole punching.
This is because the punching process induces work hardening in the edge region around the hole.
It is therefore important to monitor and
maintain the condition of the punching tools. Moreover, the amount of work hardening and damage
to the punched material within the edge
region is affected by the punching die clearance; this is why die clearance is specified in HER
testing standards and it is typically set
to ~12% of the sheet metal thickness. Standards attempt to limit variability in sample
preparation and thus produce more consistent HER
testing results.
HER Test Sample Geometry_FADI-AMT
Though not specified in the Standards, the amount of time between sample preparation (punching) and
HER testing can also significantly
affect the results. Because of this, many manufacturers specify an acceptable hold time between
punching and testing to improve consistency.
HER Testing Method
Regardless of the testing machine used, the principle of testing is straightforward. Each punched
sample is placed in the testing machine and centered with respect to the conical punch.
The clamping plates simply hold the test sample firmly in place to prevent slippage, while the
conical punch is driven against the hole deforming it into a crater.
Testing stops when a full crack propagates across the edge of the deformed sample (the crater). The cracked sample is then measured and the hole diameter at the point of cracking is recorded.
HER Test Results
The most important piece of data from the HER test is the Hole Expansion Ratio; this number is
simply the ratio of the final hole diameter
(right after a full crack is detected) to the initial hole diameter (10mm). While each individual
test produces an HER value, the average of
multiple tests is usually taken to increase accuracy. The results of each hole expansion can vary
widely, so it is important to account for
variability (more than 5 samples are typically tested per material). An example of the HER values
extracted for a grade of steel that is
commonly used in automotive body structures is given in this summary table.
HER Testing at FADI-AMT
HER Testing Standards
HER testing is regulated primarily by the ISO 16630 testing standard.
