Abstract
Automotive manufactures have taken more interests in tailored sheet metals for improving the rigidity, weight reduction, crash durability, and cost savings so that their application to auto-bodies has been increased. However, since the tailored sheet metals do not behave like un-welded sheet metals in press forming operations, the stamping engineers no longer rely only on conventional forming techniques. Futhermore, there is no clear understanding of the characteristics of welded metal which influence the overall press formability of tailored sheet metals. Recently, the computer simulations are prevailing for the evaluation of the formability. Unfortunately, the mechanical property of tailored sheet metal has to be quantitatively defined in the simulation. In this study, the analytical equations are formulated in order to find the mechanical properties of the welded metal in the tailored sheet metal welded by co$_2$laser. Based on force distribution assumption, the constitutive behavior of the welded metal is investigated using uniaxial tensile test results of base metals and tailored sheet metal. Then, the strength coefficient, work-hardening exponent, and plastic strain ratio of laser-welded metal are calculate from those of base metals and tailored sheet metal. In addition, the existence of weld defects in the welded metal is indirectly detected by examining the slop of strength coefficient of the welded metal.