Forming Characteristics of Laser Welded Tailored Blanks

레이저 용접 테일러드 블랭크의 성형특성

In order to analyze the forming characteristics of laser welded tailored blanks, laser welded blanks of different thickness and strength combinations were prepared and tensile, stretching, stretch flanging and deep drawing tests were done. The tensile elongation perpendicular to the weld line, stretching and stretch flanging formability decreased with increasing the deformation restraining force (strength ${\times}$ thickness) ratio between two welded sheets. The tensile elongation along weld line reached a value above 90% of the single sheet's elongation. Stretch flanging formability was reduced to approximately 10% of the single sheet value when the deformation restraining force ratio between two welded sheets was increased to two. Weld line movement of deep drawing test specimens was also affected by the strength ratio of the combined sheets, the weld line location and forming conditions. In all forming modes of tailored blanks, excessive weld line movement resulted from strain concentrations at the weaker sheet and resulted in fracture of the weaker side.