Automated Testing and Calibration of Sheet Metal Models

The efficient development of high-quality sheet metal components increasingly depends on predictive numerical simulations conducted prior to forming operations. Achieving such accuracy requires precise calibration of models that represent the complex mechanical behaviour of metals. Mechanical testing provides the essential data for calibration, revealing material anisotropy, strain hardening, and ductile fracture. However, traditional characterisation approaches are often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to operator variability. Within the phenomenological framework, numerous tests are typically required to capture the full material response, including repeats for statistical reliability, leading to high costs and extended lead times. To address these limitations, this study introduces an automated mechanical testing platform designed to rapidly acquire experimental data useful for material models. The use of a cobot enables fully automated test sequences, ensuring high repeatability and reducing manual intervention. When combined with automated model calibration, this approach provides a direct link between the physical material (metallic sheet) and its virtual mechanical representation.