Joing of High- and Extra-High Strength Steels - Pitfalls and Possibilities
Fügeverfahren für Stahl in der Automobilindustrie - Risiken und Möglichkeiten
Jonny K. Larsson und Lea Bengtsson
ABSTRACT The complexity of new body concepts to meet customer demands, clearly calls for the necessity of a concurrent body engineering approach. Outstanding properties can only be reached if the choice of materials, body concept and joining methods is done in an integrated process. To be able to implement appropriate joining methods, regard to the increasing specification of new body materials, a holistic approach is used at Volvo. This includes a dedicated organization, unique work methodology as well as broad programmes for technology investigation. This paper will describe the idea that lies behind the establishment of the Volvo Joining Centre. It depicts the routines for how the joinability of new material grades for automotive car bodies is evaluated, and presents the global data-base (Join-NET) in which all values for joint properties and joining process data are stored. Furthermore some R&D activities will illustrate the specific conditions that are valid when welding in different grades of extra high strength steels (EHSS). Finally, such an application, which has been successfully introduced in high volume production for recent products, will be more thoroughly described. The work methodology mentioned earlier helped reduce product developing time and resulted in a high-quality and smooth introduction without any disturbances in running production.
Publication Source: Materialprüfung, ISSN: 0025-5300
Issue: 2003-1/2, pp 9-18
Publisher: Carl Hanser Verlag München
© NDTnet
