• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.120-126
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the characteristics of fatigue fracture on TB(Tailored Blank) weldment by comparing the fatigue crack propagation characteristics of base metal with those of TB welded sheet used for vehicle body panels. We also investigated the influence of center crack on the fatigue characteristic of laser weld sheet of same thickness. We conducted an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on the base metal specimen of 1.2mm thickness of cold-rolled metal sheet(SPCSD) and 2.0mm thickness of hot-rolled metal sheet(SAPH440) and 1.2+2.0mm TB specimen. We also made an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on 2.0+2.0mm and 1.2+1.2mm thickness TB specimen which had center crack. The characteristics of fatigue crack growth on the base metal were different from those on 1.2+2.0mm thickness TB specimen. The fatigue crack growth rate of the TB welded specimens is slower in low stress intensity factor range$({\Delta}K)$ region and faster in high ${\Delta}K$ region than that of the base metal specimens.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Laser Processing Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.29-32
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• 1999

The material properties of laser welding zone such as strength coefficient, work-hardening exponent, and plastic anisotropic ratio are analytically obtained from those of base metals based on the tensile tests. . The finite element formulation is developed for predicting strain distributions and weld line movements in the forming processes of laser welded blank. The welding zone(WZ) is modelled with the several, narrow finite elements whose material characteristics are based on the experimental results and the analytical equations. In order to show an application of the developed weld element the stamping process of auto-body door inner panel is simulated. FEM predictions are compared and showed good agreements with experimental observations.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2014

This research was conducted as a fundamental study to apply tailored blank welding technique into automotive production process. Specially we tried to apply the TWB technique to exhaust system. The materials used in this work were ferritic 439 stainless steel sheet with a thickness of 1.2mm and 0.8mm. Welding tests were conducted for BOP test and dissimilar thickness (0.8 to 1.2t) cases. Major process parameters were position of focus, travel speed, shielding gas and joint (gap) condition. As a result, there are nothing significant welding characteristic compare with TWB of carbon steel. Stainless steel shows the good weldability and mechanical properties (tensile, hardness and forming strength) also shows high level. Just problem is gap condition. However, also in this case, it shows not only good forming strength but also base metal fracture after tensile test. And to conclude, it is good opportunity to make lightweight design muffler using TB welding technique.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.66-75
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• 1999

Weld bead quality in tailored blank(TB) is critically affected by edge preparation of sheets. The edge quality of prepared sheets for TB can be classified into straightness and the cross section quality of sheared plane such as a ratio of shear face, shear plane angle, etc. In order to have a good edg quality for butt-welding sheets, precision shearing will be recommended. In this paper, the feasibility of a conventional mechanical shearing as the edge preparation for tailored blanks is studyied. It reveals that fine shearing may not be the unique solution as it is generally accepted. To obtain the good shearing condition with a conventional mechanical shearing, experiments were carried out using Tahuchi method. The major parameters affecting a sheared contour are the clearance between upper blade and lower blade, and shear angle. The optimal shearing condition yields a very good straightness along the entire length of the cut, which gives a butt joint gap less than 10% of the base material thickness. The good cross section of sheared plane is also achieved in the optimal shearing condition such as a ratio of the shear face above 65%, a cross section's shear plane angle above 85%, little burr, which is providing finally good weld beads.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.319-324
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• 2012

The hot-stamping technique is a forming method for manufacturing high-strength parts, in which the part is cooled rapidly after press forming above the austenite transformation temperature. Boron steel, which contains a very small amount of boron, is one of the materials used for hot stamping. The purpose of this study is to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties according to the heat-treatment conditions. Die-quenching from various temperatures was conducted for different elapsed heat-treatment times. Laser-welded boron steel after quenching has a tensile strength of 1454 MPa and an elongation of 6 %. It has 94 % of the tensile strength of the base metal (1522 MPa). These properties can provide practical information for the use of boron steels for hot stamping.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2000

On the laser weld production line, a slight alteration of the welding condition produces many defects. The defects are monitored in real time, in order to prevent continuous occurrence of defects, reduce the loss of material, and guarantee good quality. The measurement system is produced by using three photo-diodes for detection of the plasma and spatter signal in CO$_2$ laser welding. For high speed CO$_2$ laser welding, laser tailored welded blanks for example, on-line weld quality monitoring system was developed by using fuzzy multi-feature pattern recognition. Weld qualities were classified optimal heat input, a little low heat input, low heat input, and focus misalignment, and final weld quality were classified good and bad.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1312-1316
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• 2007

Strip casted and rolled magnesium sheet is become exiting material for car manufacturer, due to its better formability and specific strength compare with conventional extruded sheet. TWB technology was attractive for car body designer, because it saves the weight of the car without strength loss. In this study, the laser welding performance of magnesium sheet was investigated for Mg TWB panel manufacturing. The material was strip casted and rolled magnesium alloy sheet contains 3 wt% Al and 1 wt% Zn (AZ31). Lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser of 2kW was used and its laser light was delivered by optical fiber of 0.6mm core diameter to material surface with focusing optics of 200mm focal length for TWB welding. The microstructure of weld bead was investigated to check internal defects such as inclusion, porosity and cracks. Also mechanical properties and formability were evaluated for press forming of car body. For the results, there was no crack but inclusion or porosity on weld at some conditions.The tensile strength of weld was over 95% of base metal. Inner and outer panel of engine hood were press formed and assembled at elevated temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.339-344
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• 1999

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 specimen was machined to be same (0.9mm+0.9mm) and different (0.9mm+2.0mm). As a base test, mechanical properties around welding zone were examined. The results indicated that there were no significant decreases in mechanical properties, but hardness around welding bead is 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 specimen and base material was different, and it is increased by 25% when pre-strain was applied. The crack propagation rate was noticeable decreased around welding line and rapidly increased as it passed by welding line. Reviewing the shape of the crack propagation, crack width around welding line was wide around the welding zone due to retardation of crack growth, but it became narrow passing welding line due to decreased toughness.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 2003

Experimental research has been carried out to investigate the characteristics of the fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior of Tailor Welded Blank(TB) sheet used for vehicle body. We used three types of specimens which were machined of the same base metal: one is 1.4mm thick, another is 1.6mm thick, and the third(TB specimen) is laser-welded of two specimens(1.4mm and 1.6mm thick ones). The results of tensile and hardness test indicate that the yield strength of the TB specimen is the highest, and the hardness around welding bead is higher than that of base metal. Fatigue strength and fatigue limit of the TB specimen are much superior to those of the base metal up to $10^6$ cycles. The fatigue crack propagation of the heat-affected zone of the TB specimen is slower than that of the base metal. Welding bead has the fastest crack Propagation in the low stress intensity factor range$(\DeltaK)$ region, but the slowest in the high $\DeltaK$ region. The fatigue propagation characteristic of the TB specimen is relatively stable in comparison with that of the base metal in the high ${\Delta}K$ region around over $28MPa\sqrt{m}$.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the characteristics of fatigue fracture on TB(Tailored Blank) weldment by comparing the fatigue crack propagation characteristics of base metal with those of TB welded sheet used for vehicle body panels. We also investigated the influence of center crack on the fatigue characteristic of laser weld sheet of same thickness. We conducted an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on the base metal specimen of 1.2mm thickness of cold-rolled metal sheet(SPCSD) and 2.0mm thickness of hot-rolled metal sheet(SAPH440) and 1.2+2.0mm TB specimen. We also made an experiment on fatigue crack propagation on 2.0+2.0mm and 1.2+1.2mm thickness TB specimen which had center crack. The characteristics of fatigue crack growth on the base metal were different from those on 1.2+2.0mm thickness TB specimen. The fatigue crack growth rate of the TB welded specimens is slower in low stress intensity factor range $({\Delta}K)$ region and faster in high${\Delta}K$ region than that of the base metal specimens. The slant crack angle slightly influenced the crack propagation of the TB specimen of 2.0+2.0mm thinkness.