The cyclic hardening behavior of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels shows tension-compression asymmetry known to be attributed to transformation of retained austenite into martensite during deformation. In this work, YoshidaUemori hardening model was used to represent the asymmetric hardening behavior of TRIP1180 steel. Yoshida-Uemori hardening model parameters were obtained from three sets of data: tension-compression, compression-tension, and a combination of the two. Material models were validated for U-bending and springback.

Flexibly-reconfigurable roll forming (FRRF) is a novel sheet metal forming technology conducive to produce multi-curvature surfaces by controlling strain distribution along longitudinal direction. Reconfigurable rollers could be arranged to implement a kind of punch die set. By utilizing these reconfigurable rollers, desired curved surface can be formed. In FRRF process, three-dimensional surface is formed from two-dimensional curve. Thus, it is difficult to predict the forming result. In this study, a regression analysis was suggested to construct a predictive model for a longitudinal curvature of FRRF process. To facilitate investigation, input parameters affecting the longitudinal curvature of FRRF were determined as maximum compression value, curvature radius in the transverse direction, and initial blank width. Three-factor three-level full factorial experimental design was utilized and 27 experiments using FRRF apparatus were performed to obtain sample data of the regression model. Regression analysis was carried out using experimental results as sample data. The model used for regression analysis was a quadratic nonlinear regression model. Determination factor and root mean square root error were calculated to confirm the conformity of this model. Through goodness of fit test, this regression predictive model was verified.

In recent years, dissimilar materials such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and advanced high strength steel are widely used in automotive body due to environment concerns and fuel consumption. Therefore, joining technology is important for assembling components made of dissimilar materials. In this study, friction stir hole clinching (FSHC) was proposed as a new mechanical joining method to join dissimilar materials. This process stirs and heats the upper sheet, forming mechanical interlocking with the lower sheet. The feasibility of this FSHC process was verified by comparing cross-section of joint in FSHC and hole clinching process under the same processing condition. Taguchi method was also applied to the FSHC process to estimate the effect of process parameters on joint strength and obtain optimal combination of process parameters. Joint strength of FSHC with optimal process condition was compared to that of FSHC with initial process condition as well as that of hole clinching with optimal process condition. Results showed that the FSHC process was useful for joining dissimilar materials, even if the formability of materials was low.

In this study, submerged arc cladded Fe-Cr-Ni-Mo-CuWNbV-C stainless steels containing various Cr contents between 11.2 wt.% and 16.7 wt.% were prepared with fixed C content at about 0.14 wt.%. Using these alloys, changes in microstructure, tensile property, and thermal fatigue property were investigated. Phase fraction of delta-ferrite was increased gradually with increasing Cr content. However, tensile strength, hardness, and thermal fatigue resistance appeared to be decreased. When the microstructure of delta-ferrite was observed, it was revealed that the mesh structure retained up to about 15% Cr content. Although thermal fatigue resistance was almost the same for Cr contents between 11.0 and 14.5 wt.%, it was significantly decreased at higher Cr contents. This was evident from mean value of crack lengths of 10 largest ones. Evaluation of thermal fatigue resistance on alloys with various Cr contents revealed the following important results. First, the reproducibility of ranking test was excellent regardless of the number of cycles. Second, thermal fatigue resistance was increased in proportion to true tensile fracture strength values of overlay materials. Finally, the number of thermal fatigue cracks per unit length was increased with increasing true tensile fracture strength.

During sling wear of a ferrous metal, a surface layer is formed. Its microstructure, constituting phases, and mechanical property are different from those of the original wearing material. Since wear occurs at the layer, it is important to characterize the layer and understand how wear rate changes with different layers. Various layers are formed depending on external wear conditions such as load, sliding speed, counterpart material, and environmental conditions. In this research, sliding wear tests of pure iron were carried out against two different counterparts (AISI 52100 bearing steel and $Al_2O_3$) in the air and in an inert Ar gas atmosphere. Pure iron was employed to exclude other effects from secondary phases in steel on the wear. Wear tests were performed at room temperature. Worn surfaces, wear debris, and cross-sections were analyzed after the test. It was found that these two different counterparts and environments produced diverse layers, resulting in significant changes in wear rate. Against the bearing steel, pure iron showed higher wear rate in an Ar atmosphere due to severe adhesion than that in the air. On the contrary, the iron showed much higher wear rate in the air against $Al_2O_3$. Different layers and wear rates were analyzed and discussed by oxidation, severe plastic deformation, and adhesion at wearing surfaces.

In this paper, an effective design procedure was proposed to design the rib of die structure for auto-body member with ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) having ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1.5 GPa. From analysis results of the die structure, structural safety of the die was evaluated with information such as displacement and von-Mises stress. It was concluded that the casting part could be designed in order to reduce tool deformation. A design guideline of the die structure was proposed, especially for the rib structure in the casting part with an optimization scheme and local reinforcement concept. Simulation result following the design guideline fully explained that stability of the tool structure could be obtained simultaneously with weight minimization.