Hossein Talebi Ghadikolaee - university of kashan, kashan, iran
Shahaboddin Seddighi - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University
Mohammad Barzegari - Fuel Cell Technology Research Laboratory, Malek Ashtar University of Technology

In the present study, the lubricated and non-lubricated stamping processes are used for fabrication of the metallic bipolar plates (MBPPs) with a thickness of ۰.۱ mm made of SS۳۳۱۶ with a serpentine flow field. Experimental tests together with the finite element (FE) model are utilized to define the directional thickness distribution. According to the results, considering the friction factor of ۰.۱ during the FE analysis is capable of providing accurate results in terms of thickness prediction under lubricated conditions. The largest thinning percentages in the modified conditions are found to be ۲۷.۰۲%, ۳۰.۴۰%, and ۲۶.۰۰% in the longitudinal, diagonal, and transverse directions, respectively, indicating that the diagonal direction is the most critical one. Finally, the effect of lubricating condition on wrinkling of the sample is investigated. According to the results, using the lubricated condition during the stamping process would lead to augmentation of the wrinkling of the bipolar plate and also, the wrinkling of bipolar plate’s margin was not symmetrical.

PEMFC, metallic bipolar plates, Metal forming, sheet metal