The bulging performance of 5052 AlMg alloy sheet was tested by a microcomputer controlled sheet metal forming test machine, and Erichsen values of sheets with thickness of 1.2 mm at room temperature were obtained under different blank holder forces, stamping speeds and lubrication conditions. The test results show that when the blank holder force is within the range of 5-15 kN，the Erichsen value increases with the increase of blank holder force. When the blank holder force is greater than 15 kN, the Erichsen value decreases with the increase of  blank holder force. Moreover, the Erichsen value increases with the increase of stamping speeds, and the Erichsen value under lubrication condition is greater than that under unlubricated condition as well as the Erichsen value with thinfilm lubrication is greater than that with lubricating oil. Based on the experiment, the forming processes of 5052 AlMg alloy sheet with different friction coefficients were simulated by software Dynaform. Then, the virtual Erichsen value was obtained according to the forming limit diagram, and the cracking position was predicted. The results of simulation show that there is a difference between the numencal simulation result and the experiment result, which doesn′t affect the forming regularity of the friction coefficient on the Erichsen value of sheets. Furthermore, the simulated cracking position is the same as that of the experiment.