• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 1998

This paper deals with the effect of laser welding parameters on the weld formation. Thin steels for automotive application were prepared so as to be welded with high power carbon dioxide laser system. Major process parameters were position of focus and travel speed. The effect of shielding gas was also discussed by employing the high speed photometry. Test results showed that the optimal position of focus varied in accordance with the joint configuration; bead-on-plate, butt or lap welding. It was recommended that the position of focus for the lap welding be located at slightly inner part of the material to be welded. In this case, however, it was noticeable that the weld penetration ratio, d/t$_{0}$ dropped drastically at the critical region. Results also demonstrated that both the bead width and penetration reduced as the travel speed increased. The penetration ratio showed two distinct regions; stabilized zone at the lower range of the travel spped and sudden drop zone at the higher range of travel speed. Lower limit of the penetration for acceptable weld was proved to be about 90% of the parent metal thickness based on the physical properties of the weld. Mixed gas application for both the shielding of molten metal and laser induced plasma control was recommended as far as the penetration was concerned.d.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1331-1332
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• 2011

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.48-55
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• 2000

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

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.362-368
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• 2011

For the purpose of improving crashworthiness qualities and maximizing weight saving efficiency, TWB's(tailor welded blanks) of quench-hardenable boron steel sheet formed by hot stamping processes has been used for automotive BIW (body in white) applications. In this work, the flow behaviors of TWB of quench-hardenable boron steel sheet were investigated in uniaxial tension tests at elevated temperature. TWB's having a uniform thickness of 1.4mm were fabricated by laser welding. Specimens with two weld line directions were used to test the mechanical property and reliability of the weld zone. After heating at $950^{\circ}C$ for 5min, the specimens were subjected to tension test at 650, 700 and $800^{\circ}C$ with a strain rate of 0.01 /s and at $700^{\circ}C$ with strain rates of 0.01, 0.1 and 1/s. The ultimate strength of the weld zones was higher than that of the base materials at 650 and $700^{\circ}C$, but was similar to the base metal at $800^{\circ}C$. Fracture occurred at the base material at 650 and $700^{\circ}C$, but at the weld zone at $800^{\circ}C$.

• 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.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.36-48
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• 1998

In order to analyze the stretch flange forming characteristics of tailored blanks. laser welded blanks of different thickness and strength combinations were prepared and hole expansion tests were done. The stretch flange formability of laser welded blanks was reduced as increasing the deformation restraining force($strength{\times}thickness$) ratio between two welded sheets. Simulation of stretch forming mode deformation and comparson with experimental results showed that the stretch flange formabili-ty was influenced not only by the difference of the deformation restraining forces between two base sheets but also by the difference of the deformation restraining forces between base sheet and weld. Therefore the stretch flange formability was reduced more rapidly than tensile elongation as increas-ing the deformation restraining force ration. It was also found that simulation of stretch flange forming was more accurate when material properties of weld was given.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.99-108
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• 1997

Analytical model for the temperature distribution and the cooling rate of weld in dual beam laser welding is presented for investigating the possibility of controling the cooling rate. The model is based on the solutions to the problem of heat flow due to the distributed and line heat sources for preheating and welding respectively in plates with finite thickness. The effects of beam power, beam distribution parameter, interbeam distance, and welding speed on the resulting temperature distribution and cooling rate are presented. The cooling rates of dual beam laser weld at the weld centerline under the investigated conditions are reduced to as one third of those of welds which were produced by single beam laser. And it appeared that the cooling rate of dual beam laser weld is strongly dependent on the process parameters of preheating laser beam power and welding speed.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2002

The laser strengthening of $35kgf/\textrm{mm}^2$ grade steel sheet is investigated by using $CO_2$ laser beam irradiation. The increase of tensile strength is dominated by the number of fully penetrated melting lines. Also, the optimal laser irradiation pattern is obtained by 3-point bending test. Local laser strengthening clay be effective for the weight reduction of automobile components where the tailored welded blank can not be applied.