Abstract
In stamping operations, the sliding of the sheet metal over the drawbeads is of great importance. The geometry of the drawbead and the degree of penetration both influence material flow and alter the frictional effects between the work and the tool. The effect of drawbead penetration over drawbeads has been studied using the Drawbead Simulator (DBS) test. The contact phenomenon between the sheet and drawbeads was analysed by examining deformed samples with an image fitting technique. The results were compared with an FE simulation and with an approximate geometric analysis. The results give a useful relationship between the rates of change of the contact angle with increasing bead penetration.