| Abstract: | Determination of input data for numerical design of sheet steels – Report on a common research project of the steel and automotive industry Within the scope of a common research project of the steel and automotive industry, 20 sheet steels have been investigated to obtain input data for FE‐analysis. In detail, elastic, plastic and fatique characteristical values were determined by several testing institutes for a period of 3 years. The investigated sheet steels differ with regard to the microstructure and the steel concept. Beside several ferritic steels, multiphase steels like dual phase‐, complex phase‐ and TRIP steels as well as 2 austenitic stainless steels were characterised. The starting materials and selected steels with a defined predeformation and heat treatment were investigated. Within this project, the partners developed a testing and documentation precept in which the ways and means were fixed to reach the defined steel condition and to enable a standardised testing and data output for the material database, realised by the automotive industry. Before the actual elastic, plastic and fatique testing, a reception test for all steels was carried out to characterise the materials with regard to the microstructure, surface condition, chemical composition and mechanical properties, obtained in the quasistatic tensile test. The results of the different testing institutes (elastic, plastic and fatique) will be presented in separate publications in detail. As a result of this project it became obvious that the investigated steels can be divided into steel groups which show a similar strain hardening behaviour. Thus, a prediction of mechanical values and flow curves for cognate steels within one steel group seems to be possible. This subject will be the focus of further investigations within the scope of a new project started on January 1st, 2003. |
