• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2016

In the current study, automatic tool compensation is accomplished by using a finite element stamping analysis for a center roof rail made of UHSS in order to satisfy the specifications for shape accuracy. The initial blank shape is calculated from a finite element inverse analysis and potential forming defects such as tearing and wrinkling are determined by the finite element stamping analysis based on the initial tool shape. The blank shape is optimized to meet the shape requirements of the final product with the stamping analysis, and die compensation is determined with the information about springback. The specifications for shape accuracy were successfully achieved by the proposed die compensation scheme using the finite element stamping analysis. The current study demonstrates that the compensation tendency is similar when the proposed scheme is used or when the compensation is performed by trial and error in the press-shop. This similarity verifies that the automatic compensation scheme can be used effectively in the first stage of tool design especially for components made from UHSS.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.201-219
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• 2022

This paper firstly proposed high performance composite columns for cold-region infrastructures using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) Q960E. Then, 24 square UHPC-filled UHSS tubes (UHSTCs) at low temperatures of -80, -60, -30, and 30℃ were performed under axial loads. The key influencing parameters on axial compression performance of UHSS were studied, i.e., temperature level and UHSS-tube wall thickness (t). In addition, mechanical properties of Q960E at low temperatures were also studied. Test results revealed low temperatures improved the yield/ultimate strength of Q960E. Axial compression tests on UHSTCs revealed that the dropping environmental temperature increased the compression strength and stiffness, but compromised the ductility of UHSTCs; increasing t significantly increased the strength, stiffness, and ductility of UHSTCs. This study developed numerical and theoretical models to reproduce axial compression performances of UHSTCs at low temperatures. Validations against 24 tests proved that both two methods provided reasonable simulations on axial compression performance of UHSTCs. Finally, simplified theoretical models (STMs) and modified prediction equations in AISC 360, ACI 318, and Eurocode 4 were developed to estimate the axial load capacity of UHSTCs at low temperatures.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.186-193
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• 2022

The application of UHSS sheet is being expanded up to 50% to reduce the weight of automobiles and improve safety. However, due to the high strength and low elongation of the ultra-high tensile strength steel sheet, product defects such as spring back and mold defects such as cracks and chippings also occur. In this study, Pin/Ring on Disc and Spiral wear tests were conducted to evaluate the durability of Ti/Cr-coated molds for forming 1.2GPa grade UHSS sheets. Component analysis and thickness were measured for each coating layer, and hardness and adhesion were investigated to determine mechanical properties. Combining the results of various wear tests, it was found that the TiAlN coating had the best wear and sticking resistance.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 2016

Recently, Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) sheet metal has been widely used to improve lightweight structures in the automobile industry. Because UHSS sheets have high strength but low elongation, it is difficult to control winkle and thinning for complex shaped products. The draw beads on die surface were introduced in this study to reduce wrinkle and thinning. The positions and strength values of draw beads were selected as design variables and optimized using finite element analysis. The beads positions and strength of a mold for B-pillar part were designed with the proposed optimization method. The accuracy of die design from optimization was verified by comparing with the results from 3-D scanned geometry.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2015

In the automotive industry, it is required to reduce weight of the car and improve fuel efficiency. Competitive pricing is also a very important issue. That's why application of welded steel tube is increasing in order to produce a vehicle with a competitive price. Also, hydroforming technology is asking more and more for thinner tubing to realize to a lighter vehicle design. Steel tube is produced through a multi-stage process called roll forming. In that case, bucking and work hardening should be considered key forming technology is to prevent buckling and minimize work hardening during steel tubing for hydroforming To prevent buckling, it is required to optimize forming process in order to minimize stretching in edge sections and hold tightly cross-section during welding. And to minimize work hardening, it is needed to know the proper process to avoid reforming.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2024

With the increasing global interest in carbon neutrality, the automotive industry is also transitioning to the production of eco-friendly cars, specifically electric vehicles. In order to achieve comparable driving distances to internal combustion engine vehicles, the application of high-capacity battery packs has led to an increase in vehicle weight. To achieve light-weighting and durability requirements of automotive components simultaneously, there is a demand for research on the application of Ultra-High Strength Steel (UHSS). However, when manufacturing chassis components using UHSS, there are challenges related to fracture defects due to lower elongation compared to regular steel sheets, as well as spring-back issues caused by high tensile strength. In this study, a simulated specimen that is not affected by the property changes of four materials was designed to improve formability of the rear cross member, which is the most challenging automotive chassis component. The influence and correlation of material-specific variables were analyzed through finite element analysis (FEA) for each material with tensile strength of 440, 590, 780, and 980 MPa grades, resulting in the development of a predictive equation. To validate the equation, the simulated specimens of 980 MPa grade were produced from the test molds. Then the reliability of the FEA and predictive equation was verified with measured specimen data using a 3D scanner. The results of this study can be proposed to improve the formability of UHSS chassis components in future researches.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2010

In this study, fundamental experiment was conducted with various strength of UHSS (Ultra High Strength Steel) by $CO_2$ laser. And then, butt and lap joint laser welding with boron alloyed steel and Al-Si coated boron alloy steel have been done by changing laser beam feature, existence of gap and existence of coating layer to know welding characteristics of those materials. As a result, in case of fundamental experiment with various strength steel, hardening was found in the weld metal of all tested materials and softening was found at the heat affected zone of SGAFC 1180. In case of laser butt welding of UHSS, mechanical properties was improved by using small laser beam diameter and Al-Si coating layer caused fracture of weld metal. In case of laser lap welding of UHSS, Al-Si coating layer resulted in formation of intermetallic compound at the fusion boundary where fracture occurred. Al-Si coating layer caused lowering mechanical properties of weld metal.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2013

When stamping ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS), the phenomenon of galling, which corresponds to a transfer of material from the sheet to the tool surface, occurs because of the high contact pressure between tool and workpiece. Galling leads to increased friction, unstable interface conditions, scratches on the sheet and the tool surfaces and, eventually, premature tool surface failures. Therefore, a simple and accurate evaluation method for tool scratching is necessary for the selection of tool material and coating, as well as for a better optimization of process conditions such as blank holder force and die radius. In this study, the pin-on-disc (PODT) and pin-on-flat surface (POFST) tests are conducted to quantitatively evaluate scratch-related tool life for stamping of UHSS. The variation of the friction coefficient is used as an indicator of scratch resulted from galling. The U-channel ironing test (UCIT) is performed in order to validate the results of the friction tests. This study shows that the POFST test provides a good quantitative estimation of tool life based on the occurrence of scratch.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2017

In this study, a wear test method was proposed to predict the wear life of the CrN layer coated on the surface of the press tools for manufacturing the auto-parts with ultra high strength steel (UHSS) with a tensile strength of 1.5 GPa. The pin-on-disc type wear test was carried out to confirm the feasibility and the reproducibility of the wear amount according to the test conditions such as the normal force, the sliding velocity, and the sliding speed. The test conditions were obtained from the finite element stamping analysis and the wear simulation. With the wear amount from the wear test, a prediction model of the wear depth in the CrN coating layer was proposed according to the test conditions with the design of experiments such as Taguchi method and the response surface method. The derived prediction model was then compared to the result of the Archard wear model, fully describing that the proposed model can effectively predict the wear life of the press tools for the auto-parts with UHSS.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.301-305
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• 2016

The manual modification of stamping die has widely been used in order to reduce springback after sheet metal forming. When UHSS (Ultra High Strength Steel) is used in sheet metal forming, the die design considering springback compensation is more difficult because higher strength sheet has more springback. In this study, the optimization method was used in order to design die geometry considering springback compensation after forming of 1.2GPa UHSS. Die geometries were defined as design variables and the springback distance from the die surface was conducted as object function in optimization process. The optimized die geometry considering springback compensation was performed using finite element and optimization analysis. The simulation results such as thickness distribution and springback amount were compared with measured data using 3D optical measurement system (GOM ARGUS, ATOS). And the prediction of springback amount showed a good agreement within test results.