Abstract
For the Tailor Welded Blank sheet used for automobile body panel, the characteristics of fatigue strength and crack propagation behavior were studied. The thickness of specimens was joined to be same (0.9mm+0.9mm) and different (0.9mm+2.0mm) .As a base test, mechanical properties around weld zone were examined . The results indicated that there were no significant decreases in mechanical properties , but hardness around weld bead was 2.3 times greater than base material . The fatigue strength was the highest when the loading direction was parallel to the welding direction, which was about 85% of tensile strength of base material. It was decreased by 8.5% when the thickness of specimens and base metal was different, and it was increased by 25% when pres-strain was applied. The crack propagation rate was noticeably decreased around weld line and rapidly increased as it passed through weld line. Reviewing the shape of the crack propagation , crack width around weld line was around the weld zone due to retardation of crack growth , but is became narrow passing weld line due to decreased toughness.