• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.121-129
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• 1997

Bellows are suggested as energy absorbing elements for automotive steering systems. A metallic bellows has nearly constant axial collapse load which is desirable as an energy absorbing element for a steering column. Axial collapsability and bending flexibility of bellows can be utilized to reduce upward tilting and backward displacement of steering columns in the early stage of high speed crash. Since bending flexibility of bellows has negative effects on the vibration characteristics of steering columns it is necessary to maximize the first natural frequency of a bellows while maintaining its plastic bending flexibility and axial collapse load. An effort is made to attain optimum design of bellows based upon the Taguchi method. A general guideline for design of bellows is suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.281-285
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• 2008

Ferritic stainless steel is used for parts of exhaust system of commercial vehicle, because it has such advantages as low price and high corrosion resistant compared with austenite stainless steel. Even though ferritic stainless steel has these merits, to manufacture multi-layer bellows with complex geometry, austenite stainless steel is being used in the industry, because of it's high ductility. However, recently, the mechanical property of the ferritic stainless is getting improved and alternating austenitic stainless steel. In this paper, the possibility of mass production of bellows made of ferritic stainless steel like MH1 and 443CT is studied. Tensile test and ridging test are carried out to observe mechanical properties of STS304, MH1 and 443CT. Forming analysis using FEM is performed to investigate plastic strain during forming process. Prototype bellows has been made using STS304, MH1 and 443CT, respectively, and fatigue tests are carried out to evaluate fatigue life of bellows.