Numerical-experimental investigation of using rubber blank holder on wrinkling of metallic bipolar plates formed by stamping process

Abstract

Stamping is the regarded as the best among manufacturing method of metallic bipolar plates considering its less production time and higher mass production capability. The present research studied the manufacturing of metallic bipolar plates with a parallel serpentine flow field made of a 304 stainless steel plate of 0.1 mm thickness via stamping. The wrinkling is a defect created in stamping these plates. It prevents the correct assembly of the plates and, hence, reduces the efficiency of the assembly. Accordingly, this paper first investigates the effects of using rubber blank holders on wrinkling reduction around the bipolar plates. Then, the influence of the geometric parameters of the rubber blank holder, such as the thickness, width, hardness, and compression percentage, are studied by the response surface methodology. Finally, the most appropriate path for the assembly of the plates in terms of wrinkling is selected. According to the results, a rubber blank holder reduces the wrinkles around the bipolar plate. Among the studied parameters, the compression percentage and hardness of the blank holder contributed most to the reduction in the wrinkling around these plates for better assembly. Furthermore, wrinkling decreases with an increase in the compression percentage, hardness, width, and thickness of the rubber blank holder throughout the selected paths at 3 mm and 6 mm distances. Among the distances selected on the plate edges, a distance of 6 mm from the edges is the best path for assembling the plates.