• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2001

Automotive manufactures have taken more interests in tailored sheet metals for improving the rigidity, weight reduction, crash durability, and cost savings so that their application to auto-bodies has been increased. However, since the tailored sheet metals do not behave like un-welded sheet metals in press forming operations, the stamping engineers no longer rely only on conventional forming techniques. Futhermore, there is no clear understanding of the characteristics of welded metal which influence the overall press formability of tailored sheet metals. Recently, the computer simulations are prevailing for the evaluation of the formability. Unfortunately, the mechanical property of tailored sheet metal has to be quantitatively defined in the simulation. In this study, the analytical equations are formulated in order to find the mechanical properties of the welded metal in the tailored sheet metal welded by co$_2$laser. Based on force distribution assumption, the constitutive behavior of the welded metal is investigated using uniaxial tensile test results of base metals and tailored sheet metal. Then, the strength coefficient, work-hardening exponent, and plastic strain ratio of laser-welded metal are calculate from those of base metals and tailored sheet metal. In addition, the existence of weld defects in the welded metal is indirectly detected by examining the slop of strength coefficient of the welded metal.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1025-1028
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• 2004

In this paper, we studied low cycle fatigue behavior of laser welded sheet metal that used automobile body panel. Specimens were manufactured as weld condition and sheet metal using automobile manufacturing company at present. For to know mechanical properties, micro Vicker's hardness test was performed of specimens. But, we can't confirm mechanical properties of weld bead and heat affected zone because laser weld makes very narrow weld bead and heat affected zone than other welding method. Therefore, we performed low cycle fatigue test with similar weldment, dissimilar weldment, similar thickness and dissimilar weldment, and dissimilar thickness and dissimilar weldment for fatigue properties of thickness and welding direction. As well, we analysis stress distribution of base metal, weld bead, and heat affected zone according to strain load using finite element method.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2000

Tailor-welded blanks are used for forming of automobile structural skin components. The main objective of this study is to achieve weight and cost reduction in manufacturing of components. For successful application of tailor-welded blanks, design of initial welded blanks and prediction of the welding line movement are critical. The utilization of the backward tracing scheme of the finite element method shows to be desirable in design of initial welded blanks for net-shape production and in prediction of the welding line movement. First the design of the initial blank in forming of welded thick sheet with isotropy is tried, and it appears successful in obtaining a net-shape stamping product. Based on the first trial approach, the backward tracing scheme is applied to anisotropic tailored blanks. The welding line movement is also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.627-631
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• 2005

In this study, low fatigue behavior of laser welded sheet metal were investigated. Before welding, the cross section of butt joint was prepared only by fine shearing without milling process. Specimens were same sheet metal and welding condition that using automobile manufacturing company at present. Butt joint of cold rolled sheet metal was welded by $CO_2$ laser. It is used that welding condition such as laser welding speed was 5.5m/sec and laser output power was 5kW for 0.8mm and 1.2mm sheet metal. The laser weldments were machined same or different thickness and same or different material. In order to mechanical properties of around welding zone, hardness test was performed. Hardness of welding bead is about 2 times greater than base material. We performed the low cycle fatigue tests for obtaining fatigue properties about thickness and the weld line direction of specimen. The results of strain controlled low cycle fatigue test indicate that all specimens occur cyclic softening, as indicated by the decrease in stress to reach a prescribed strain.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.429-436
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• 1999

In sheet metal forming , forming limit diagram is very important to design and analyze of sheet metal forming process. Recently tailor welded blanks of different thickness and different material and strength combinations are used widely in automobile industry to reduce car manufacturing cost. In order to analyze the forming characteristics of tailored welded blanks, we have investigated the forming limit dia-grams for 3 kinds of different material using mash seam and laser welding experimentally and dis-cussed for the characteristics of forming for tailor welded blanks. It is concluded that forming limit dia-gram for the different material combination TWB locates between FLD of the thinner base material sheet and the thicker ones.

• 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 Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.854-858
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• 2002

In this study, Fatigue crack growth behavior of the laser welded sheet metal due to a single overload was investigated. From Fatigue crack propagation test, it was observed that the retardation of fatigue crack growth has been more effective in the welded specimen than in the base metal. And if the distance between the welded part and the position of overload is too close the retardation of fatigue crack growth at the welded part has been decreased. From FEM analysis, it was observed the retardation has been more effective compressive residual stress than plastic zone.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.30-34
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• 2006

We investigated fatigue crack growth behavior in laser-welded sheet metal caused by a single applied overload The fatigue specimens were made using butt jointed cold rolled sheet metal that was welded with a $CO_2$ laser, The effects of the specimen thickness and overload ratio were determined from fatigue crack propagation tests, These tests were performed in such a way that the fatigue loading was aligned parallel to the weld line while the crack propagated perpendicular to the weld line, Overload ratios of 1.0, 1.5, and 2. 0 were applied near the tip of the fatigue crack at points located 6, 4, and 2 mm from the weld line. The specimens were either 0.9 or 2.0 mm thick. The size of the plastic zone at the crack tip due to the single applied overload was also determined using finite element analysis.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.23-29
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• 2002

As automotive manufacturers have taken a growing more interest in tailored sheet metals for improving the rigidity, weight reduction, crash durability, and cost saving application of the tailored sheet metals to automotive bodies has been resently increased greatly. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of fatigue crack initiation behavior of laser welded sheet use for vehicle body panel. We experimented three types of specimens which were machined of the same base metal : one is 1.4㎜ thick, another is 1.6㎜ thick, the others is laser welded of the 1.4mm thick specimen and 1.6㎜ thick specimen. The results indicated that laser welded metal (1.4＋1.6㎜) is the best one for fatigue strength and fatigue life.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.40-43
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• 2001

The use ef sheet material for the hydroforming of a closed hollow body out of two sheet metal blanks is a new class of hydroforming process. By using a three-dimensional finite element program, called HydroFORM-3D, the hydroforming process of sheet metal pairs is analyzed. Also the comparison of conventional deep-drawing and hydroforming process was conducted. The simulation has concentrated on the influences of the various forming conditions, such as the unwelded or welded sheet metal pairs and friction condition, on the hydroforming process. This computational approach can prevent time-consuming trial-and-error in designing the expensive die sets and hydroforming process of sheet metal pairs.