ANS:A - Deep drawing

Earing is a defect commonly found in steels after the metalworking operation of deep drawing. Earing, also known as "ear formation" or "ear formation tendency," refers to the non-uniform deformation or stretching of a metal sheet during deep drawing. It results in the formation of ears or ridges around the periphery of the drawn cup. Earing occurs due to the inherent anisotropic mechanical properties of rolled steel sheets, particularly in the direction of rolling. During deep drawing, the metal sheet is subjected to significant stretching in certain directions, leading to variations in thickness and deformation across the sheet. The anisotropic properties of rolled steel cause uneven deformation, resulting in the formation of ears at specific orientations relative to the rolling direction. Although earing can occur in other metalworking operations such as rolling, extrusion, and wire drawing, it is most commonly associated with deep drawing due to the pronounced stretching and deformation involved in shaping flat metal sheets into complex three-dimensional shapes, such as cups, cans, or automotive body panels.