scholarly journals The Evaluation of Laser Weldability of the Third-Generation Advanced High Strength Steel

Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
António B. Pereira ◽  
Rafael O. Santos ◽  
Bruno S. Carvalho ◽  
Marilena C. Butuc ◽  
Gabriela Vincze ◽  
...  

To meet the demands of vehicular safety and greenhouse gas emission reduction, the automotive industry is increasingly using advanced high strength steels (AHSS) in the production of the components. With the development of the new generation of AHSS, it is essential to study their behavior towards manufacturing processes used in the automotive industry. For this purpose, the welding capability of newly developed third-generation Gen3 980T steel was investigated using the Nd:YAG (Neodymium:Yittrium Aluminum Garnet) laser-welding with different parameter conditions. The analysis was made by uniaxial tensile tests, micro-hardness, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The criteria used to evaluate the quality of the weld were the distance between the fracture and the weld bead and the surface finish. A relationship between the quality of the weld and the energy density was observed, expressed by a partial penetration for values below the optimal, and by irregularities in the weld bead and a high number of spatters for the values above the optimal.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 4970
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Noder ◽  
Jon Edward Gutierrez ◽  
Amir Zhumagulov ◽  
James Dykeman ◽  
Hesham Ezzat ◽  
...  

While the third generation of advanced high-strength steels (3rd Gen AHSS) have increasingly gained attention for automotive lightweighting, it remains unclear to what extent the developed methodologies for the conventional dual-phase (DP) steels are applicable to this new class of steels. The present paper provides a comprehensive study on the constitutive, formability, tribology, and fracture behavior of three commercial 3rd Gen AHSS with an ultimate strength level ranging from 980 to 1180 MPa which are contrasted with two DP steels of the same strength levels and the 590R AHSS. The hardening response to large strain levels was determined experimentally using tensile and shear tests and then evaluated in 3D simulations of tensile tests. In general, the strain rate sensitivity of the two 3rd Gen 1180 AHSS was significantly different as one grade exhibited larger transformation-induced behavior. The in-plane formability of the three 1180 MPa steels was similar but with a stark contrast in the local formability whereas the opposite trend was observed for the 3rd Gen 980 and the DP980 steel. The forming limit curves could be accurately predicted using the experimentally measured hardening behavior and the deterministic modified Bressan–Williams through-thickness shear model or the linearized Modified Maximum Force Criterion. The resistance to sliding of the three 3rd Gen AHSS in the Twist Compression Test revealed a comparable coefficient of friction to the 590R except for the electro-galvanized 3rd Gen 1180 V1. An efficient experimental approach to fracture characterization for AHSS was developed that exploits tool contact and bending to obtain fracture strains on the surface of the specimen by suppressing necking. Miniature conical hole expansion, biaxial punch tests, and the VDA 238-100 bend test were performed to construct stress-state dependent fracture loci for use in forming and crash simulations. It is demonstrated that, the 3rd Gen 1180 V2 can potentially replace the DP980 steel in terms of both the global and local formability.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1768
Author(s):  
Bryan Y. Navarrete Pino ◽  
Antonio A. Torres Castillo ◽  
Emmanuel J. Gutiérrez Castañeda ◽  
Luis A. Espinosa Zúñiga ◽  
Lorena Hernández Hernández ◽  
...  

The present work presents a theoretical and experimental study regarding the microstructure, phase transformations and mechanical properties of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) of third generation produced by thermal cycles similar than those used in a continuous annealing and galvanizing (CAG) process. The evolution of microstructure and phase transformations were discussed from the behavior of intercritical continuous cooling transformation diagrams calculated with the software JMatPro, and further characterization of the steel by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and dilatometry. Mechanical properties were estimated with a mathematical model obtained as a function of the alloying elements concentrations by multiple linear regression, and then compared to the experimental mechanical properties determined by uniaxial tensile tests. It was found that AHSS of third generation can be obtained by thermal cycles simulating CAG lines through modifications in chemistry of a commercial AISI-1015 steel, having an ultimate tensile strength of UTS = 1020–1080 MPa and an elongation to fracture of Ef = 21.5–25.3%, and microstructures consisting of a mixture of ferrite phase, bainite microconstituent and retained austenite/martensite islands. The determination coefficient obtained by multiple linear regression for UTS and Ef was R2 = 0.94 and R2 = 0.84, respectively. In addition, the percentage error for UTS and Ef was 2.45–7.87% and 1.18–16.27%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed model can be used with a good approximation for the prediction of mechanical properties of low-alloyed AHSS.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Marcel Carpio ◽  
Jessica Calvo ◽  
Omar García ◽  
Juan Pablo Pedraza ◽  
José María Cabrera

Designing a new family of advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs) to develop automotive parts that cover early industry needs is the aim of many investigations. One of the candidates in the 3rd family of AHSS are the quenching and partitioning (QP) steels. These steels display an excellent relationship between strength and formability, making them able to fulfill the requirements of safety, while reducing automobile weight to enhance the performance during service. The main attribute of QP steels is the TRIP effect that retained austenite possesses, which allows a significant energy absorption during deformation. The present study is focused on evaluating some process parameters, especially the partitioning temperature, in the microstructures and mechanical properties attained during a QP process. An experimental steel (0.2C-3.5Mn-1.5Si (wt%)) was selected and heated according to the theoretical optimum quenching temperature. For this purpose, heat treatments in a quenching dilatometry and further microstructural and mechanical characterization were carried out by SEM, XRD, EBSD, and hardness and tensile tests, respectively. The samples showed a significant increment in the retained austenite at an increasing partitioning temperature, but with strong penalization on the final ductility due to the large amount of fresh martensite obtained as well.


Author(s):  
Tarun Nanda ◽  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Virender Singh ◽  
Arnab Chakraborty ◽  
Sandeep Sharma

The automobile industry is presently focusing on processing of advanced steels with superior strength–ductility combination and lesser weight as compared to conventional high-strength steels. Advanced high-strength steels are a new class of materials to meet the need of high specific strength while maintaining the high formability required for processing, and that too at reasonably low cost. First and second generation of advanced high-strength steels suffered from some limitations. First generation had high strength but low formability while second generation possessed both strength and ductility but was not cost effective. Amongst the different types of advanced high-strength steels grades, dual-phase steels, transformation-induced plasticity steels, and complex phase steels are considered as very good options for being extended into third generation advanced high-strength steels. The present review presents the various processing routes for these grades developed and discussed by different authors. A novel processing route known as quenching and partitioning route is also discussed. The review also discusses the resulting microstructures and mechanical properties achieved under various processing conditions. Finally, the key findings with regards to further research required for the processing of advanced high-strength steels of third generation have been discussed.


Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1261
Author(s):  
Mari Carmen Taboada ◽  
Amaia Iza-Mendia ◽  
Isabel Gutiérrez ◽  
Denis Jorge-Badiola

Carbide-free bainitic (CFB) steels belong to the family of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) that are struggling to become part of the third-generation steels to be marketed for the automotive industry. The combined effects of the bainitic matrix and the retained austenite confers a significant strength with a remarkable ductility to these steels. However, CFB steels usually show much more complex microstructures that also contain MA (Martensite–Austenite) phase and auto-tempered martensite (ATM). These phases may compromise the ductility of CFB steels. The present work analyzes the substructure evolution during tensile tests in the necking zone, and deepens into the void and crack formation mechanisms and their relationship with the local microstructure. The combination of FEG-SEM imaging, EBSD, and X-ray diffraction has been necessary to characterize the substructure development and damage initiation. The bainite matrix has shown great ductility through the generation of high angle grain boundaries and/or large orientation gradients around voids, which are usually found close to the bainite and MA/auto-tempered martensite interfaces or fragmenting the MA phase. Special attention has been paid to the stability of the retained austenite (RA) during the test, which may eventually be transformed into martensite (Transformation Induced Plasticity, or TRIP effect).


2013 ◽  
Vol 773-774 ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debanshu Bhattacharya

Two major drivers for the use of advanced steels in the automotive industry are fuel efficiency and increased safety performance. Fuel efficiency is mainly a function of weight of steel parts, which in turn, is controlled by gauge and design. Safety is determined by the energy absorbing capacity of the steel used to make the part. All of these factors are incentives for the automobile manufacturers to use Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) to replace the conventional steels used to manufacture automotive parts in the past. AHSS is a general term used to describe various families of steels. The most common AHSS is the dual-phase steel that consists of a ferrite-martensite microstructure. These steels are characterized by high strength, good ductility, low tensile to yield strength ratio and high bake-hardenability. Another class of AHSS is the complex-phase or multi-phase steel which has a complex microstructure consisting of various phase constituents and a high yield to tensile strength ratio. Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels is another class of AHSS steels finding interest among the U.S. automakers. These steels consist of a ferrite-bainite microstructure with significant amount of retained austenite phase and show the highest combination of strength and elongation, so far, among the AHSS in use. High level of energy absorbing capacity combined with a sustained level of high n value up to the limit of uniform elongation as well as high bake hardenability make these steels particularly attractive for safety critical parts and parts needing complex forming. A relatively new class of AHSS is the Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) steels. These steels seem to offer higher ductility than the dual-phase steels of similar strengths or similar ductility as the TRIP steels at higher strengths. Finally, martensitic steels with very high strengths are also in use for certain parts. The most recent initiative in the area of AHSS is the so-called 3rd Generation AHSS. These steels are designed to fill the region between the dual-phase/TRIP and the Twin Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steels with very high ductility at strength levels comparable to the conventional AHSS. Enhanced Q&P steels may be one method to achieve this target. Other ideas include TRIP assisted dual phase steels, high manganese steels and higher carbon TRIP type steels. In this paper, some of the above families of advanced high strength steels for the automotive industry will be discussed with particular emphasis on the role of niobium.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Gabriel Bonella de Oliveira ◽  
Ricardo Tadeu Junior Aureliano ◽  
Luiz Carlos Casteletti ◽  
André Itman Filho ◽  
Amadeu Lombardi Neto ◽  
...  

Abstract The quest for safety improvement with weight reduction of vehicles and consequently lower fuel consumption, led the automotive industry to begin research into the third generation of advanced high strength steels. These steels present complex microstructures, composed of martensite, bainite and stable retained austenite. Two of the main treatments for obtaining these microstructures are the low temperature austempering and Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P). The objective of this work is to evaluate the microhardness and adhesive wear performance of a high silicon steel alloyed with niobium submitted to the treatments mentioned above. The austempering treatment was conducted at 340 °C for 1 and 3 hours. Partitioning steps in Q&P were performed at 250 °C for 10, 30 and 60 minutes. Results shows that niobium addition promotes changes in the bainite morphology which improved the wear resistance.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document