The parametric study of Steel-Al alloy SPR joint process is based on the FE simulation described by Kim et al. [10], which was validated by comparing experimental and simulation results for two kinds of steel-Al alloy combinations according to the lower sheet thickness. To analyze the SPR joint process, the friction coefficient, the lower sheet thickness, and the rivet length were selected as the main parameters. Based on FE simulations, the effect of main parameters was investigated by measuring the interlock and the bottom thickness at the cross-sectional shape of the SPR joint. The results of simulation facilitate the design of SPR joint process in various metal combinations.

The cemented carbide and stainless steel were bonded using a hot-vacuum brazing method to analyze the bonding interface. Since it is suitable for the hot vacuum brazing, nickel metal was used as a binder among the main components of the cemented carbide, and a new cemented carbide material was developed by adjusting the alloy composition. The paste, which is one of the important factors affecting the hot vacuum brazing bonding, was able to improve brazing adhesion by mixing solder as Ni powder and a binder as an organic compound at an appropriate ratio. Division of the stainless steel yielded a dense brazing result. This study elucidated the interfacial characteristics of wear-resistant parts by bonding stainless steel and cemented carbide via hot vacuum brazing.

The flow stress curve is usually determined via uniaxial tensile or simple compression test. However, the flow stress curve up to high strain cannot be obtained using these two tests. This study presents a simple method for obtaining the flow stress curve up to high strain via FE analysis, a simple compression test, and an indentation test. In order to draw the flow stress curve up to high strain, the indentation test was carried out with the pre-stained specimen using the simple compression test. The flow stress curve of Al6110 was evaluated up to high strain using the proposed method, and the result was compared with the flow stress curve of the uniaxial tensile test of the initial material.

The surface region of a sheet metal may have different characteristics from the inner region because the surface region is less restricted than the interior. In addition, the grains on the free surface are less hardened because of surface adsorption of the dislocations, rather than piling up. In the case of bulk or thick sheet metals, this effect is negligible because the fraction of the surface region is much smaller than that of the inner region. However, this surface effect is important in the case of ultra-thin sheet metals. In order to evaluate the surface effect, tensile and bending tests were performed for the SS304 stainless steel with a thickness of 0.39 mm. The bending force predicted using the tensile behavior is higher than the measurement because of the surface effect. To account for the surface effect, the surface layer model was developed by dividing the sheet section into surface and inner layers. The mechanical behaviors of the two regions were calibrated using the tensile and bending properties. The surface layer model reproduced the bending behavior of the ultra-thin sheet metal.

Blind rivet nuts (BRNs) are increasingly used in automotive industry because unlike conventional bolt fastening, BRN fastening requires access from one side only. Generally, fastening is conducted using automated units, but manual fastening may be resorted to in case of small quantities. Since the fastening direction is not exactly perpendicular to the sheet metal, the BRN axis is tilted with respect to the plate and may result in damage or incomplete fastening. As the tilt angle (clamping angle α) increases, undesired plate deformation occurs and the contact area of the plate with the BRN fastening area decreases, reducing the clamping effect. In this study, the reduction of the clamping effect with the α was investigated to ensure stable fastening force. M6 BRNs were used in the tests. The fastening force was measured as follows: the plate was cut in half through the center of the hole; the BRN was inserted into the hole and fastened; and the clamping angle a was measured (values, 0° ≤ α ≤ 9°). The force leading to the separation of the halves was measured using a universal testing machine (UTM). The maximum α range, in which the fastening force remains stable, was determined. Finite element (FE) analysis confirmed that the fastening force decreases approximately linearly with increasing α. Based on the experiment and FE analysis using various α, the fastening force was found to decrease with α. Further, the maximum tolerance for α that provides secure fastening without damage is suggested.

A V-bending test was performed in order to predict springback of high-strength steel sheets under various conditions. The results of V-Bending test were analyzed with artificial neural networks and FE-simulation, respectively, for the tool design. The results of design are discussed. The bending test result using the tool designed with artificial neural networks was about 92˚. However, the bending test result using the tool designed FE-simulation was about 94.5˚. Artificial neural networks are a useful tool along with FE-simulation in predicting springback.

The mechanical responses of multilayered aluminum sheet fabricated by roll bonding, i.e., A1050/A3004 (65% A1050, 35% A3004 by thickness), were investigated via combined experiment and finite element (FE) analysis. The mechanical properties were measured using uniaxial tensile tests in various loading directions for the multilayered sheet. The corresponding tests for individual layers were also conducted. The testing samples were prepared by wire electro discharge machining (EDM). Stress-strain curves and Lankford coefficients of the multilayered sheet were then predicted by FE simulations. The measured mechanical properties of the individual layers were utilized as inputs for the simulation. Two yield functions, i.e., isotropic von-Mises and anisotropic non-quadratic Hill1948, were employed. Predicted results were compared with the experimental data and further discussed.

In general, the drawing process is performed in a multi-pass to meet the required shape and cross section. In the drawn material, the surface strain is relatively higher than the center due to the direct contact with the die. Therefore, a non-uniform strain distribution appears in the surface of the material where the strain is concentrated and the center having a relatively low strain, thus it is difficult to predict the strain in the drawn material. In this study, the non-uniform strain distribution was evaluated using a finite element analysis and the non-uniform strain distribution model based on the upper bound method. In addition, the relationship between the hardness and the strain was established through a simple compression test to evaluate the distribution of the strain in the experimentally multi-pass drawn bar.

In this study, elastoplastic finite element analysis with multi-body treatment was used to elucidate the mechanical phenomena occurring from pre-stressing of die-system. A finite element analysis model with detailed conditions is proposed. The effects of die pre-stressing slope on the circumferential components of the pre-stressed die inserts were evaluated. The role of tight fitting between the supporter and die case was also emphasized because it has a significant effect on the undesirable change in the target slope of machined inner surface of the die case around the die insert. The two mechanical problems include the one between die-insert and die case and the other between supporter and die case, and their correlation is minimized to establish the optimum design in the die structural design stage because it cannot be quantitatively controlled owing to various factors affecting the die structural behavior during die pre-stressing.