• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1010-1015
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• 2008

In this study, the characteristics of aluminum tube hydroformed products at different extrusion type and heat treatment conditions were investigated. For the investigation, as-extruded, full annealed and T6-treated Al 6061 tubes at different extrusion type were prepared. To evaluate the hydroformability, free bulge test was performed at room temperature to $300^{\circ}C$. Also mechanical properties of hydroformed products at various pre- and post-heat treatments were estimated by hexagonal prototype hydroforming test at $250^{\circ}C$. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed tube. As a results, hydroformability of full annealed tube is $5{\sim}8%$ higher than that of extruded and T6-treated tube. The tensile strength and elongation of T6-post heat treated indirect extrusion tube were more than 330MPa and 12%, respectively. However, T6 pre treated hydroformed product represents high strength, 330MPa and low elongation, 8%. Therefore, Hydroformability of Al6061 tube showed similar value for both extrusion types. However flow stress of direct tube showed $20{\sim}50MPa$ lower value than indirect tube.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.17-20
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• 2002

Recently tube hydroforming technology has been one of the most important technology in automotive industry in the point of saving weight and high quality for collision accidents. In this paper, experimental studies for axial compression tests of hydroformed tubes are performed to investigate the collapse absorption characteristics. The collapse absorption abilities are discussed and compared for as-received, hydroformed, and press formed tubes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.254-257
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• 2007

In this study, hydroformability and mechanical properties of pre- and post- heat treated Al6061 tubes at different extrusion type were investigated. For the investigation, as-extruded, full annealed and T6-treated Al 6061 tubes at different extrusion type were prepared. To evaluate the hydroformability, uni-axial tensile test and free bulge test were performed at room temperature and $200^{\circ}C$. Also mechanical properties of hydroformed part at various pre- and post-heat treatments were estimated by tensile test. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed tube at $200^{\circ}C$. As for the heat treatment, hydroformability of full annealed tube is 25% higher than that of extruded tube. The tensile strength and elongation were more than 330MPa and 12%, respectively, when hydroformed part was post-T6 treated after hydroforming of pre- full annealed tube. However, hydroformed part using T6 pre treated tube represents high strength and low elongation, 8%. Therefore, the T6 treatment after hydroforming for as-extruded tube is cost-effective. Hydroformability of Al6061 tube showed similar value for both extrusion types. But flow stress of seam tube showed $20{\sim}50MPa$ lower value.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2008

Tube hydroforming process is generally consisted with pre-bending, preforming and hydroforming processes. Among forming defects which may occur in tube hydroforming such as buckling, wrinkling and bursting, the wrinkling and bursting by local instability under excessive tensile stress mode were mainly caused by thinning phenomenon in the manufacturing process. Thus the accurate prediction and suitable evaluation of the thinning phenomenon play an important role in designing and producing the successfully hydroformed parts without any failures. In this work, the formability on hydroformed part for automobile, i.e. engine cradle, was evaluated using finite element analysis. The initial tube radius, loading path with axial feeding force and internal pressure, and preformed configuration after preforming process were considered as the dominant process parameters in total tube hydroforming process. The effects on these process parameters could be confirmed through the numerical experiments with respect to several kinds of finite element simulation conditions. The degree of enhancement on formability with each process parameters such as initial tube radius, loading path and preform configuration were also compared. Therefore, it is noted that the evaluation approach of the formability on hydroformed parts for lots of industrial fields proposed in this study will provide one of feasible methods to satisfy the increasing practical demands for the improvement of the formability in tube hydroforming processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.132-135
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• 2007

In this study, hydroformability and mechanical properties of pre- and post- heat treated Al6061 tubes at different extrusion type were investigated. For the investigation, as-extruded, full annealed and T6-treated Al6061 tubes at different extrusion type were prepared. To evaluate the hydroformability, uni-axial tensile test and free bulge test were performed at room temperature and $250^{\circ}C$. Also mechanical properties of hydroformed part at various pre- and post-heat treatments were estimated by tensile test. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed tube at $250^{\circ}C$. As for the heat treatment, hydroformability of full annealed tube is 25% higher than that of extruded tube. The tensile strength and elongation were more than 330MPa and 12%, respectively, when hydroformed part was post-T6 treated after hydroforming of pre- full annealed tube. However, hydroformed part using T6 pre treated tube represents high strength and low elongation, 8%. Therefore, the T6 treatment after hydroforming for as-extruded tube is cost-effective. Hydroformability of Al6061 tube showed similar value for both extrusion types. But flow stress of seam tube showed $20{\sim}50MPa$ lower value.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2007

Effect of heat treatment conditions on formability and property of warm hydroformed parts for Al 6061 extruded tubes was investigated in this study. For the investigation, as-extruded, fully annealed and T6-treated Al 6061 seamless tubes were prepared. To evaluate the warm hydroformability, uni-axial tensile test and free bulge test were performed at various pre- and post-heat treatment conditions. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed parts at $250^{\circ}C$. As a result, hydroformability of fully annealed tube is 25% higher than that of extruded tube. The tensile strength and strain of hydroformed part reach to 330 MPa and 12%, respectively, when the part was T6 treated after warm hydroforming. However, the hydroformability of T6 pre-treated tube is relatively low due to the decreased elongation, 8%.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2010

Hydroforming is the technology that utilizes hydraulic pressure to form tube or sheet materials into desired shapes inside die cavities. Tube hydroforming provides a number of advantages over the conventional stamping process, including fewer secondary operations, weight reduction, assembly simplification, adaptability to forming of complex structural components and improved structural strength. In many case, hydroformed parts have to be structurally joined at some point. Therefore it is useful if the hydroformed automotive parts can be given a localized attachment flange. In this study for the numerical process design FE analysis was performed with DYNAFORM 5.5. Die parting angle and circumferential expansion ratio was optimized. With optimized condition, bulge and hydroforming experiments to form flange were performed. Forming characteristic at various pressure conditions was analyzed and optimized internal pressure condition was evaluated. The results show that flanged parts can be successfully produced by tube hydroforming process.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2010

Hydroforming has attracted a great deal of attention in the manufacturing industries for vehicles and transportation systems. Hydroforming technology contributes to weight reduction, increased strength, improved quality and reduced tooling cost. Hydroformed automotive parts used as structure components in vehichle body frame often have to be structurally joined at some point. Therefore it is useful if the hydroformed automotive parts can be given a localized attachment flange. For a given flange shape, a parting plane for the dies is established relative to which the various surfaces of the flange shape, in cross section, have no significant reverse curvature. In this study, hydroforming process for flange forming was proposed. FE analysis to form flanged circular shape and flanged rectangular shape was preformed with Dynaform 5.5. To accomplish successful hydroforming process design, thorough investigation on proper combination of process parameters such as tool geometry and hydraulic pressure has been performed and optimized. The results show that flanged automotive parts can be successfully produced with tube hydroforming.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.45-48
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• 2006

Recently, the use of tubular hydroforming technology has seen increased usage and increased consideration for wide range of tubular automotive applications. In manufacturing hydroformed parts, bending and pre-forming operations are often required prior to the hydroforming process. Higher bending quality of bent tubes is crucial for the successful hydroforming operation because most of plastic strains and wall thinning at the extrados of bend area occur in the bending operation. Springback is also observed due to elastic recovery of tube material after bending. Proper correction of springback is required not only to well place the bent tube into a hydroforming die cavity but also to avoid pinching when the upper die is brought down to closing position. Therefore, prediction of springback at early development stage is one of the key factors to produce high quality hydroformed parts. In this study, a variety of bending experiments has been carried out to investigate springback amount under change in bending angle and material boosting. Throughout the experimental approach, springback characteristics of bent tubes are quantified according to the change in various bending parameters, and a mathematical model to predict correction amount of springback to a given bend angle is found.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2015

To achieve lightweight design, research & development of various lightweighting technologies such as hydroforming are underway worldwide. In the case of hydroforming, application of ultra high strength steel is essential for weight reduction of the car. However, considering common high-strength carbon steel, it is not suitable to the actual hydroformed parts since the lack of formability. DP steel offers an outstanding combination of strength and formability as a result of their microstructure. DP steel has high strength and good formability but it's difficult to secure stable quality of welding section because of softening of weld section and chemical composition. Therefore, most of companies use LASER welding when making high strength tube. Electric resistance welding is excellent production method for steel tube manufacturing considering the productivity. Optimum electric resistance welding technology is needed to be developed for application of high strength hydroformed parts using DP steel. This study is comprehensive research & development from electric resistance welding to actual formabililty evaluation.