TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a press-formed product (hereinafter, also
referred to simply as a "formed product") which is shaped from a starting material of
metal sheet by press working. Particularly, the present invention relates to a pressformed
product including a flange section which is formed by stretch flange
deformation, and a method for designing the formed product.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
For automobile skeleton components (hereafter, also referred to simply as
"skeleton components") constituting a body of an automobile, efforts have been
made to promote weight reduction and functional enhancement (for example,
improvement of anti-collision performance). For that purpose, a tailored blank is
used as the starting material for a skeleton component. The tailored blank is made
up of a plurality of metal sheets integrated by being joined (for example, buttwelded)
together, in which the plurality of metal sheets are different from each other
in tensile strength, sheet thicknesses, and the like. Hereinafter, such a tailored blank
is also referred to as a TWB. A press-formed product is obtained by press-working
a TWB. A press-formed product is subjected, as needed, to trimming, restriking or
the like, thereby being finished into a desired shape.
[0003]
For example, a front pillar and a side sill are each a complex body of skeleton
components. The front pillar is disposed on a fore side of a vehicle body, and
extends vertically. The side sill is disposed in a lower portion of the vehicle body,
and extends in a fore-to-aft direction. A lower end section of the front pillar and a
fore end section of the side sill are coupled to each other. Here, some structures of
2
the front pillar may adopt a structure which is divided into upper and lower sections.
In this case, the upper section is called as a front pillar upper, and the lower section
as a front pillar lower. A lower end section of the front pillar upper and an upper
end section of the front pillar lower are coupled to each other.
[0004]
The front pillar lower includes, as skeleton components, for example, a front
pillar lower-outer (hereafter, also referred to simply as an "outer"), a front pillar
lower-inner (hereafter, also referred to simply as an "inner"), and a front pillar lowerreinforcement
(hereafter, also referred to simply as a "reinforcement"). The outer is
disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The inner is disposed on
the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcement is disposed
between the outer and the inner. Among those, the outer is curved in an L-shape
along the longitudinal direction, and has a hat-shaped cross section over the entire
range in the longitudinal direction. Typically, the outer is a press-formed product.
[0005]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams to show an example of a front pillar
lower-outer which is a press-formed product. Of these figures, FIG. 1A shows a
plan view, and FIG. 1B shows an A-A cross sectional view of FIG. 1A. Note that,
to help understanding of shape, the side to be coupled to the side sill is designated by
a symbol "S", and the side to be coupled to the front pillar upper is designated by a
symbol "U".
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the front pillar lower-outer 10 includes a curved region
(see an area surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A) 13 which is curved in an
L-shape along the longitudinal direction, and a first region 11 and a second region 12,
which are respectively connected to both ends of the curved region 13. The first
region 11 extends in a straight fashion from the curved region 13 rearwardly in the
travelling direction of an automobile to be coupled to the side sill. The second
region 12 extends in a straight fashion upwardly from the curved region 13 to be
coupled to the front pillar upper.
[0007]
3
As shown in FIG. 1B, the cross sectional shape of the outer 10 is a hat shape
over the entire range in the longitudinal direction from an end to be coupled to the
front pillar upper to an end to be coupled to the side sill. Therefore, each of the
curved region 13, the first region 11 and the second region 12, which constitute the
outer 1 0, includes a top plate section 1 Oa, a first vertical wall section 1 Ob, a second
vertical wall section 1 Oc, a first flange section 1 Od, and a second flange section 1 Oe.
The first vertical wall section 1 Ob is connected with the entire length of the side
forming the inner side of curve of the both side sections of the top plate section 1 Oa.
The second vertical wall section 1 Oc is connected with the entire length of the side
forming the outer side of curve of the both side sections of the top plate section 1 Oa.
The first flange section 1 Od is connected with the first vertical wall section 1 Ob.
The second flange section 1 Oe is connected with the second vertical wall section 1 Oc.
[0008]
It is possible to use a TWB for the production of such front pillar lower-outer
10. Regarding the method for shaping a press-formed product from the TWB, the
following conventional techniques are available.
[0009]
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-198672 (Patent Literature
1) discloses a technique to mitigate the load acting on the vicinity of a weld line of a
TWB at the time of press working. In this technique, the TWB is provided with a
cutout at a location slightly apart from the weld line. Patent Literature 1 describes
that at the time of press working, strain which occurs in the vicinity of the weld line
is dispersed by the cutout, thereby improving formability of the formed product.
[001 0]
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-1062 (Patent Literature 2)
discloses a technique for applying press working on a TWB which is made up of two
metal sheets each having a different tensile strength and a sheet thickness. In this
technique, a weld line of the TWB is disposed on a portion where a gradient of strain
would occur when a single metal sheet, which is not a TWB, is press worked. Then,
a metal sheet having a higher strength is disposed on the side of larger strain, and a
metal sheet having a lower strength is disposed on the side of smaller strain. As a
result of this, strain will be reduced in press working such as deep drawing, bulging
4
and the like. Patent Literature 2 describes that, as a result of that, cracking of the
base metal which occurs in the metal sheet on the lower strength side is suppressed,
thus improving the formability of formed product.
[0011]
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-20854 (Patent Literature 3)
discloses a technique to apply press working on a TWB which is made up of two
metal sheets having similar levels of tensile strength and ductility. In this technique,
a specific region in a formed product obtained by press working is subjected to a heat
treatment such as nitriding, thereby strengthening the specific region. Patent
Literature 3 describes that since deformation resistance of the metal sheet is uniform
at the time of press working before the heat treatment, the formability of the formed
product is improved.
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE
[0012]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-198672
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-1062
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-20854
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0013]
When performing press-working, a portion of the blank (metal sheet) may
undergo stretch flange deformation depending on the shape of the press-formed
product. The stretch flange deformation refers to a deformation form in which as a
working tool (press tooling) intrudes and moves into a blank, the blank stretches in a
direction along the moving direction of the working tool as the working tool (press
tooling) moves into the blank, and at the same time it stretches in a circumferential
direction perpendicular to the moving direction.
[0014]
5
For example, as shown in FIGS. IA and IB, a press-formed product (front
pillar lower-outer I 0), which is curved in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction,
and has a hat-shaped cross section, is produced by using a die and a punch as the
working tool. In the production of a press-formed product, a blank holder is used as
needed. The blank holder is disposed adjacent to a punch. When performing
press-working, an edge section of the blank is held between the blank holder and the
die so that irregular deformation of the blank is suppressed. Moreover, in the
production of a press-formed product, a pad may be used. The pad is disposed in
opposition to a punch within a die. When performing press-working, the blank is
held between the pad and the punch, thereby suppressing irregular deformation of the
blank.
[OOI5]
When shaping a press-formed product shown in FIGS. IA and IB described
above, an arc-shaped area I4 on the inner side of curve of the curved region I3 in the
area of the first flange section I Od stretches in a radial direction of an arc (a width
direction of the curved region) and, at the same time, stretches in the circumferential
direction of the arc (a longitudinal direction ofthe curved region). That is, the arcshaped
area I4 is formed by stretch flange deformation.
[OOI6]
Conventionally, when producing a press-formed product by using a TWB, a
weld line of the TWB has been disposed so as to avoid an area which undergoes
stretch flange deformation (hereinafter, also referred to as a "stretch flange
deformation field"). This is because ifthe weld line is disposed in a stretch flange
deformation field, cracking occurs between the weld line and the base metal sheet
due to the fact that deformation resistance is different between the welded metal and
the base metal sheet.
[OOI7]
Therefore, conventionally, the position to depose the weld line in the pressformed
product shown in FIGS. IA and IB described above has been limited to an
area of the first region II on the side of the side sillS, or an area of the second region
I2 of the side of the front pillar upper U. This is because the area of the curved
region I3 includes the arc-shaped area I4 which becomes a stretch flange
6
deformation field. Therefore, the degree of freedom for designing a press-formed
product using a TWB is limited.
[0018]
Regarding such problems, in the technique ofPatent Literature 1, a cutout
provided in the TWB remains in the formed product after press-working. For that
reason, it is inevitable to remove the cutout by trimming. In that case, it is difficult
to reduce the production steps.
[0019]
In the technique of Patent Literature 2, it is necessary to dispose a metal sheet
having a higher strength on the side of larger strain, and a metal sheet having a lower
strength on the side of smaller strain. Therefore, there is a risk that weight
reduction and functional enhancement are hindered. Moreover, regarding the
position to dispose the weld line of TWB, Patent Literature 2 only provides the
following description. The weld line of TWB is disposed in a portion, 5 to 1 0 mm
or more away, and within 200 mm or less, from a location where cracking occurs
when press-working a single blank.
[0020]
In the technique of Patent Literature 3, it is necessary to apply heat treatment
such as nitriding to a formed product after press-working. Therefore, not only an
excess amount of heat treatment cost is imposed, but also the number of the
production steps will increase.
[0021]
In short, any of the techniques ofPatent Literatures 1 to 3 cannot readily
realize improvement of the degree of freedom for designing a press-formed product.
[0022]
The present invention has been made in view of the above described
situations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a press-formed product
having the following feature and a method for designing the same:
To improve the degree of freedom for designing a press-formed product
which is shaped from a TWB.
7
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[0023]
A press-formed product according to one embodiment of the present
invention comprises a tailored blank made up of a plurality of metal sheets buttwelded
together. The press-formed product includes a flange section, and an arcshaped
area in which an inner peripheral edge is open in the area of the flange
section. A weld line of the tailored blank intersects with the inner peripheral edge
of the arc-shaped area, and an outer peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area. An
angle formed by the weld line and a maximum principal strain direction is 17 to 84 a.
[0024]
The design method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a
method for designing the above described press-formed product. In designing the
press-formed product, the weld line is disposed such that during press-working, a
relative difference between strain dEWLy' in the direction along the weld line at the
center in the width direction of the weld line, and strain dEBMY' in the direction along
the weld line in the vicinity of the weld line of the metal sheet is not more than 0.030.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0025]
A press-formed product of the present invention and a method for designing
the same have the following prominent effect:
Effect of enabling to improve the degree of freedom for designing a pressformed
product which is shaped from a TWB.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026]
[FIG. lA] FIG. lA is a plan view to schematically show an example of a front pillar
lower-outer which is a press-formed product.
[FIG. lB] FIG. lB is an A-A cross sectional view ofFIG. lA.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view to schematically show an example of a front pillar
lower-outer as a press-formed product ofthe present embodiment.
8
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view to schematically show a TWB which is used when the
front pillar lower-outer shown in FIG. 2 is produced.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view to show an area on the inner side of
curve of a curved region in the front pillar lower-outer shown in FIG. 2.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram to show an occurrence situation of strain in a
stretch flange deformation field.
[FIG. 6A] FIG. 6A is a perspective view to show an analysis model including a press
tooling, in which an outline of an FEM analysis performed to investigate the
disposition of a weld line in a plane strain deformation field (stretch flange
deformation field) is schematically shown.
[FIG. 6B] FIG. 6B is a plan view to show the shape of the blank in the analysis
model ofFIG. 6A.
[FIG. 6C] FIG. 6C is a perspective view to show the shape of a formed product
which is shaped by using the analysis model of FIG. 6A.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view to show a press-formed product by a hole
expansion test, which is performed to investigate the disposition of the weld line in a
uniaxial tensile deformation field (stretch flange deformation field).
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram to show an occurrence situation of strain in
the stretch flange deformation of the press-formed product shown in FIG. 7.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram to show a correlation between an angle y of the weld
line and an r-value ofthe base metal sheet.
[FIG. 1 0] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view to schematically show an outline of a hole
expansion test.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view to show a TWB used in the hole expansion test.
[FIG. 12A] FIG. 12A is a photograph to show an appearance of a representative
press-formed product by a hole expansion test, showing a case in which a weldingline
second angle y is about 43°.
[FIG. 12B] FIG. 12B is a photograph to show an appearance of a representative
press-formed product by a hole expansion test, showing a case in which the weldingline
second angle y is about 5 8°.
9
[FIG. 12C] FIG. 12C is a photograph to show an appearance of a representative
press-formed product by a hole expansion test, showing a case in which the weldingline
second angle y is about 68°.
[FIG. 12D] FIG. 12D is a photograph to show an appearance of a representative
press-formed product by a hole expansion test, showing a case in which the weldingline
second angle y is about 90°.
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view to schematically show an outline of a collision test.
[FIG. 14A] FIG. 14A is a plan view to show a front pillar lower-outer of
Comparative Example 1 used in a collision test.
[FIG. 14B] FIG. 14B is a plan view to show a front pillar lower-outer oflnventive
Example 1 of the present invention used in the collision test.
[FIG. 14C] FIG. 14C is a plan view to show a front pillar lower-outer of
Comparative Example 2 used in the collision test.
[FIG. 15A] FIG. 15A is a diagram to show test results of a collision test, in which
absorbed energy by a front pillar lower-outer is shown.
[FIG. 15B] FIG. 15B is a diagram to show test results of collision test, in which
absorbed energy per unit volume by the front pillar lower-outer is shown.
[FIG. 16A] FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram to show a shape of the blank used in
press-forming as Comparative Example 3, and a shape of the metal sheet before
trimming work which is used for making the blank.
[FIG. 16B] FIG. 16B is a schematic diagram to show a shape ofthe blank used in
press-forming as Comparative Example 4, and a shape of the metal sheet before
trimming work which is used for making the blank.
[FIG. 16C] FIG. 16C is a schematic diagram to show a shape ofthe blank used in
press-forming as Inventive Example 2 ofthe present invention, and a shape ofthe
metal sheet before trimming work which is used for making the blank.
[FIG. 16D] FIG. 16D is a schematic diagram to show a shape ofthe blank used in
press-forming as Comparative Example 5, and a shape of the metal sheet before
trimming work which is used for making the blank.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram to show an area ofthe blank which is removed by
trimming work for each of Inventive Example 2 of the present invention and
Comparative Examples 3 to 5.
10
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram to show an example of a relationship between a
proportion X of WL welding-line direction strain dcwLy' with respect to maximum
principal strain dcx, and a strain ratio !3.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0027]
In order to achieve the above described objects, the present inventors have
performed various tests, thereby conducting diligent investigation. As a result of
that, they have obtained the following findings. When a press-formed product is
produced from a TWB by press-working, ifthe weld line is simply disposed in a
stretch flange deformation field, cracking occurs in the vicinity of the weld line,
thereby deteriorating formability of the formed product. However, even when the
weld line is disposed in the stretch flange deformation field, properly setting the
position of the weld line makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of cracking,
thus ensuring the formability of the formed product. As a result of that, it is
possible to improve the degree of freedom for designing a press-formed product
using a TWB.
[0028]
The press-formed product of the present invention and the method for
designing the same are completed based on the above described findings.
[0029]
The press-formed product according to one embodiment of the present
invention comprises a tailored blank made up of a plurality of metal sheets buttwelded
together. The press-formed product includes a flange section, and an arcshaped
area in which an inner peripheral edge is open in the area of the flange
section. The weld line of the tailored blank intersects with the inner peripheral edge
of the arc-shaped area and an outer peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area. An
angle formed by the weld line and a maximum principal strain direction is 17 to 84 o.
In a typical example, the press-formed product is shaped by press-working. At that
moment, the arc-shaped area is formed by stretch flange deformation. The
maximum principal strain direction is a maximum principal strain direction of the
stretch flange deformation.
11
.'
[0030]
In the above described press-formed product, the angle formed by the weld
line and a tangential line of the inner peripheral edge at an intersection point between
the weld line and the inner peripheral edge is preferably 40 to 75°.
[0031]
In the above described press-formed product, it is preferable that the number
of the metal sheets for making up the tailored blank is two, and the two metal sheets
are different from each other in at least one of tensile strength and sheet thickness.
[0032]
In the case of this press-formed product, the following configuration may be
adopted. The press-formed product is an automobile skeleton component which is
curved in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction. The skeleton component has
a hat-shaped cross-section over the entire range in the longitudinal direction. The
skeleton component includes a curved region curved along its longitudinal direction,
and a first region and a second region, respectively extending from both ends of the
curved region. The skeleton component is a component which is supposed to be
subjected to a collision load along an extended direction ofthe first region. The
arc-shaped area is a flange section on the inner side of curve of the curved region.
The sheet thickness of the metal sheet disposed on the side of the first region is larger
than the sheet thickness of the metal sheet disposed on the side of the second region.
[0033]
In the case of a press-formed product which has adopted such configurations,
the following configuration can be adopted. The skeleton component is a front
pillar lower-outer. The first region is coupled to a side sill, and the second region is
coupled to a front pillar upper.
[0034]
In a press-formed product which has adopted such a configuration, a
multiplication value of a tensile strength and a sheet thickness of the metal sheet
disposed on the side of the first region is substantially equal to a multiplication value
of a tensile strength and a sheet thickness of the metal sheet disposed on the side of
the second region. In a typical example, a difference between those multiplication
values is not more than 600 mm·MPa.
12
[0035]
The design method according to one embodiment of the present invention
disposes the weld line so as to be in the following state, when designing the above
described press-formed product. During press-working, a relative difference
between a strain dcWLy' in the direction along the weld line at the center in the width
direction of the weld line, and strain dcsMy' in the direction along the weld line in the
vicinity of the weld line ofthe metal sheet is not more than 0.030. More preferably,
the relative difference between strain dcWLy' and strain dcBMY' is 0 (zero).
[0036]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the drawings. Here, as the press-formed product, a front pillar
lower-outer among automobile skeleton components will be taken as an example.
[0037]
[Press-formed product]
FIG. 2 is a plan view to schematically show one example of a front pillar
lower-outer as a press-formed product of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan
view to schematically show a TWB which is used when the front pillar lower-outer
10 shown in FIG. 2 is produced. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view to show an
area on the inner side of curve of the curved region in the front pillar lower-outer
shown in FIG. 2. The outer 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is, as
with the outer shown in FIG. 1A described above, curved in an L-shape along the
longitudinal direction, and has a cross section of a hat-shape over the entire range in
the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 1B).
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer 10 includes a curved region 13 which is curved
in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction, and a first region 11 and a second
region 12, which are respectively connected to both ends of the curved region 13.
The first region 11 extends from the curved region 13 in a straight fashion rearwardly
in the traveling direction of an automobile to be coupled to a side sill. The second
region 12 extends from the curved region 13 in a straight manner upward to be
coupled to a front pillar upper. The outer 10 is a skeleton component which
13
constitutes the front pillar lower, and is supposed to be subjected to a collision load
along an extended direction of the first region 11 to be coupled to the side sill.
[0039]
The outer 10 of the present embodiment is shaped by press-working from a
TWB 20 shown in FIG. 3. The weld line L of the TWB 20 is disposed so as to
correspond to an area ofthe curved region 13 ofthe outer 10. In the outer 10, an
arc-shaped area 14 on the inner side of curve of the curved region 13 in the area of
the first flange section 1 Od becomes a stretch flange deformation field at the time of
press-working. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the outer peripheral edge 14a of the
arc-shaped area 14 provides a ridgeline connecting to the first vertical wall section
lOb. The inner peripheral edge 14b ofthe arc-shaped area 14 is open. The weld
line L intersects with the inner peripheral edge 14b and the outer peripheral edge 14a
of the arc-shaped area 14.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 3, the TWB 20, which is made up of two metal sheets
joined by butt-welding, comprises a first metal sheet 21 and a second metal sheet 22.
In the TWB 20, the first metal sheet 21 is disposed so as to be on the side of the first
region 11 (on the side of the side sill) of the outer 10, and the second metal sheet 22
is disposed so as to be on the side of the second region 12 (on the side of the front
pillar upper) of the outer 10. The first metal sheet 21 has a lower tensile strength
than that of the second metal sheet 22. However, the first metal sheet 21 may have
same tensile strength as that of the second metal sheet 22, or may have a higher
tensile strength than that of the second metal sheet 22. Further, the first metal sheet
21 has a larger sheet thickness than that of the second metal sheet 22.
[0041]
In the outer 10 of the present embodiment, the sheet thickness on the side of
the side sill (on the side of the first region 11) corresponds to that of the first metal
sheet 21, and the sheet thickness of the side of the front pillar upper (on the side of
the second region 12) corresponds to that of the second metal sheet 22. That is, the
sheet thickness on the side of the side sill is larger than that of the side of the front
pillar upper. Since the sheet thickness on the side of the first region 11 to be
coupled to the side sill is large, axial collapse performance of the first region 11 will
14
be improved. Thereby, it is possible to improve the anti-collision performance of
the outer 10. On the other hand, since the sheet thickness on the side ofthe second
region 12, which is to be coupled with the front pillar upper, is small, it is possible to
realize weight reduction of the outer 10. Since the sheet thickness on the side of the
second region 12 has a lower contribution to the axial collapse performance of the
first region 11, there will be no hindrance to the anti-collision performance.
[0042]
[Disposition of weld line]
Ifthe weld line L ofthe TWB 20 is simply disposed in the arc-shaped area 14
ofthe outer 10, cracking will occur in the vicinity ofthe weld line L. This is
because the arc-shaped area 14 becomes a stretch flange deformation field at the time
of press-working. In the present embodiment, in the arc-shaped area 14 of the outer
10, an angle e (hereinafter, also referred to as a "welding-line first angle") formed by
the weld line and a maximum principal strain direction of the stretch flange
deformation is set to 17 to 84°. The maximum principal strain direction refers to a
circumferential direction of a curved arc in a portion where a sheet-thickness
reduction rate is maximum (hereinafter, also referred to as a "maximum sheetthickness
reduction section") of the arc-shaped area 14 where the sheet thickness is
reduced due to stretch flange deformation at the time of press working (see a dotted
line arrow in FIG. 4).
[0043]
The maximum sheet-thickness reduction section appears in the vicinity ofthe
weld line Lon the side of the metal sheet which has a lower equivalent strength of
the first and second metal sheets 21 and 22 joined to each other across the weld line
L. The equivalent strength of the metal sheet refers to a multiplication value
[mm·MPa] oftensile strength [MPa] and sheet thickness [mm] of the metal sheet.
The vicinity of the weld line L means, for example, a range of 0.5 to 4 mm from a
boundary between the weld line L and the metal sheet on the side of lower equivalent
strength. When the sheet thickness of the metal sheet on the side of lower
equivalent strength is t [mm], the vicinity of the weld line L may refer to a range of
0.5xt to 4xt [mm] from the boundary between the weld line Land the metal sheet on
the side of lower equivalent strength. The maximum sheet-thickness reduction
15
section refers to a region which exhibits a sheet thickness reduction up to a value of
work hardening coefficient (n-value) of the metal sheet on the side of lower
equivalent strength, or 0.8 times of then-value.
[0044]
The maximum principal strain direction can be easily recognized from the
shape of the press-formed product (outer 1 0). Specifically, when concentric arcs
centering on the arc center of the outer peripheral edge 14a of the arc-shaped area 14
is drawn, the direction along the tangential line to the arc in the maximum sheetthickness
reduction section becomes the maximum principal strain direction.
[0045]
lfthe welding-line first angle e is 17 to 84°, it is possible to reduce the sheetthickness
reduction rate in the maximum sheet-thickness reduction section, thereby
allowing suppression of cracking. As a result of that, it is possible to ensure the
formability of a formed product.
[0046]
Moreover, if the weld line L ofthe TWB 20 is simply disposed on the arcshaped
area 14 ofthe outer 10, cracking is likely to occur in the vicinity ofthe
intersection point between the weld line Land the inner peripheral edge 14b of the
arc-shaped area 14. Such cracking occurs in the vicinity of the weld line Lon the
side of the metal sheet having lower equivalent strength of the first and second metal
sheets 21 and 22 joined to each other across the weld line L. Therefore, in the
present embodiment, an angle y (hereinafter, also referred to as a "welding-line
second angle") formed by the weld line L and the tangential line of the inner
peripheral edge 14b at the intersection point between the weld line Land the inner
peripheral edge 14b is set to 40 to 75°.
[0047]
If the welding-line second angle y is 40 to 75°, it is possible to suppress
occurrence of cracking at the inner peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area. As a
result ofthat, it is possible to ensure the formability of the formed product.
[0048]
The mode of the press-forming for producing the outer 10 of the present
embodiment may be appropriately selected according to the shape of the formed
16
product. For example, not only flange forming, but also bending, drawing, bulging,
hole expanding, and the like can be combined. As a press tooling, a die paired with
a punch is used. Further, a blank holder, a pad, and the like for holding the blank
may be used.
[0049]
Moreover, in the outer 10 of the present embodiment, the weld line L is
disposed in the curved region 13. This makes it possible to improve material yield
compared with a case in which the weld line is disposed in a straight-shaped portion
of the first region 11 (on the side of the side sill) or the second region 12 (on the side
ofthe front pillar upper). Therefore, it is possible to reduce production cost of the
formed product.
[0050]
Further, the outer 10 of the present embodiment absorbs higher energy upon
collision, thus improving anti-collision performance compared with a case in which
the weld line is disposed in a straight-shaped portion on the side of the first region 11
to be coupled to the side sill. Moreover, the outer 10 ofthe present embodiment
absorbs higher energy in view of unit volume upon collision compared with a case in
which the weld line is disposed in a straight-shaped portion on the side of the second
region 12 to be coupled with the front pillar upper. Therefore, it is possible to
combine weight reduction and functional enhancement in a good balance.
[0051]
As described above, the outer 10 ofthe present embodiment is shaped from a
TWB 20 which is made up of the first metal sheet 21 and the second metal sheet 22.
In this case, it is preferable that an equivalent strength of the first metal sheet 21
disposed on the side of the first region 11 is substantially equal to an equivalent
strength of the second metal sheet 22 disposed on the side of the second region 12.
This is because the deformation resistances of the first and second metal sheets 21
and 22 become equal at the time of press working, thus improving the formability of
formed product. The statement "equivalent strength is substantially equal" permits
the difference in equivalent strength up to 600 mm·MPa. That is, the difference
between the equivalent strength of the first metal sheet 21 and the equivalent strength
of the second metal sheet 22 is preferably not more than 600 mm • MPa. Such
17
difference in the equivalent strength is preferably not more than 400 mm·MPa, and
more preferably not more than 350 mm·MPa.
[0052]
When producing the outer 10 ofthe present embodiment, the width of the
weld line L of the TWB 20 is preferably smaller. Because, in the present
embodiment, focusing on the deformation in the weld line direction in an area
including the weld line Land its vicinity, its deformation is investigated in line with
actual situation. The deformation is based on the amount of strain in the weld line
direction at the center in the width direction of the weld line L. As a welding
method to form a narrow width weld line L, a laser welding may be adopted.
Besides, a plasma welding may also be adopted.
[0053]
[Design of proper disposition ofweld line]
When the weld line of the TWB is disposed so as to intersect with the inner
peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area, in the arcshaped
area which becomes a stretch flange deformation field of the press formed
product, the deformation field (strain field) of an area including the weld line and its
vicinity is strictly a deformation field of uniaxial tension, or a deformation field
closer to plane strain. In particular, in the area other than the inner peripheral edge
of the arc-shaped area, the deformation field becomes close to plane strain
(hereinafter, also referred to as a "plane strain deformation field"). On the other
hand, in the inner peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area, the deformation field
becomes a uniaxial tensile deformation field. This is because the inner peripheral
edge is open.
[0054]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram to show the occurrence situation of strain in a
stretch flange deformation field. In reality, the weld line L has a width (see a
hatched part in FIG. 5). Here, consider a case in which the weld line L intersects
with the circumferential direction (that is, the maximum principal strain direction of
flange deformation) of the curved arc of the arc-shaped area at an angle e (that is, the
above described welding-line first angle). In the arc-shaped area which becomes
the stretch flange deformation field, strain d~::x occurs in the circumferential direction
18
of the curved arc in the base metal sheet 21, 22 in the vicinity of the weld line.
Hereinafter, this strain dcx is also referred to as "circumferential strain". Further,
strain dey occurs in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the
curved arc (that is, a radial direction of the curved arc). Hereinafter, this strain dey
is also referred to as radial strain. A ratio ~ (=dcy/dcx) of both the strains varies
according to a Lankford value (hereinafter, also referred to as an "r-value") of the
base metal sheet.
[0055]
In this case, the radial strain dey can be represented by the following Formula
(1).
dEy= dEx x (-r)/(1 + r) ... (1)
where, r represents an r-value.
[0056]
Moreover, regarding strain components based on the circumferential strain
dcx and the radial strain dey which occur in the base metal sheets 21, 22 in the
vicinity of the weld line, strain dey' in a direction along the weld line L (hereinafter,
also referred to as a "weld line direction") can be represented by the following
Formula (2). Hereinafter, the strain dey' is also referred to as BM welding-line
direction strain dey' (or "dEBMy"'). This Formula (2) is derived by coordinate
transforming the circumferential strain dEx and the radial strain dey by using the
tensor coordinate transformation rule.
dey'= dEx x (cos 8)2 +dEy x (sin 8)2 ••• (2)
[0057]
Substituting Formula (1) into Formula (2), the BM welding-line direction
strain dEy' can also be represented by the following Formula (3).
dey'= dEx x (cos 8)2 + dEx x ( -r)/(1 + r) x (sin 8)2
••• (3)
[0058]
Any ofFormulas (1) to (3) is common to the uniaxial tensile deformation field
and the plane strain deformation field. In such a stretch flange deformation field,
the maximum sheet-thickness reduction section appears in the vicinity of the weld
line on the side of the metal sheet having a lower equivalent strength ofthe two
metal sheets 21 and 22 which are joined to each other across the weld line L. Here,
19
regarding a portion of the weld line adjacent to the maximum sheet-thickness
reduction section in the circumferential direction of the curved arc, let the strain in
the weld line direction at the center in the width direction of the weld line be dEwLy'.
Hereinafter, this strain dEWLy' is also referred to as WL welding-line direction strain
dEWLy'.
[0059]
When the weld line L is disposed in the stretch flange deformation field,
cracking that occurs in the vicinity of the weld line is caused by shear deformation
which occurs between the weld line L and the base metal sheet (metal sheet 22 in
FIG. 5) on the side oflower equivalent strength. Such shear deformation occurs
due to the fact that there is difference in material characteristics between the welded
metal and base metal sheet. Thus, it can be said that decreasing shear deformation
can suppress the occurrence of cracking.
[0060]
Then, in the present embodiment, when designing a press-formed product, the
weld line is disposed such that relative difference between the WL welding-line
direction strain dEWLy' and the BM welding-line direction strain dEy' becomes small
during press working. Specifically, according to actual situation, the weld line may
be disposed such that relative difference between the WL welding-line direction
strain d!::WLY' and the BM welding-line direction strain d!::y' becomes not more than
0.030. As relative difference between the WL welding-line direction strain d!::WLY'
and the BM welding-line direction strain dEy' decreases, the shear deformation which
occurs between the weld line and the base metal sheet on the side of lower equivalent
strength decreases. This will make it possible to suppress the occurrence of
cracking, thus ensuring formability of the formed product. As a result, it is possible
to improve the degree of freedom for designing a press-formed product using a TWB.
In particular, disposing the weld line such that relative difference between the WL
welding-line direction strain d!::WLY' and the BM welding-line direction strain d!::y'
becomes 0, will make it possible to most effectively suppress the occurrence of
cracking.
[0061]
20
[Disposition ofweld line in plane strain deformation field: welding-line first
angle 8]
FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams to schematically show an outline of an FEM
analysis performed to investigate the disposition of the weld line in a plane strain
deformation field (stretch flange deformation field). Among these figures, FIG. 6A
is a perspective view to show an analysis model including a press tooling. FIG. 6B
is a plan view to show the shape of a blank. FIG. 6C is a perspective view to show
a shape of a formed product.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 6C, as a formed product including a plane strain
deformation field of stretch flange deformation, a press-formed product 15 which is
curved in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction was adopted. This pressformed
product 15 includes a top plate section 15a which is curved in an L-shape, a
vertical wall section 15b connected to the side section of the inner side of curve of
this top plate section 15a, and a flange section 15c connected to the vertical wall
section 15b. The flange section 15c includes an arc-shaped area 16 formed by
stretch flange deformation. This formed product 15 includes the weld line L such
that it intersects with the inner peripheral edge 16b and the outer peripheral edge 16a
of the arc-shaped area 16.
[0063]
As a blank for shaping the press-formed product 15, a TWB 25 made up of
two metal sheets A and B was adopted as shown in FIG. 6B. In this TWB 25, the
weld line L was disposed at a position corresponding to the arc-shaped area 16 ofthe
press formed product 15. The metal sheet A was a high tensile strength steel sheet
corresponding to JAC980Y of Japan Iron and Steel League Standards (hereinafter,
also referred to as "980 MPa class High Tensile Strength Steel"), and the metal sheet
B was a high tensile strength steel sheet corresponding to JAC780Y of the same
standards (hereinafter, also referred to as "780 MPa class High Tensile Strength
Steel"). The sheet thickness of any of those was 1.6 mm. That is, the equivalent
strength of the metal sheet A was higher than that of the metal sheet B.
[0064]
21
Press working was performed by using a die 26, a punch 27 and a pad 28 as
shown in FIG. 6A. At that time, in the formed product 15, the disposition of the
weld line L of the TWB 25 was changed such that the angle 8 (welding-line first
angle) formed by the weld line Land the maximum principal strain direction of
stretch flange deformation had four levels: 23°,40°, 72°, and 86°. At any ofthe
levels, the maximum sheet-thickness reduction section appeared not in the vicinity of
the inner peripheral edge 16b of the arc-shaped area 16, but in the vicinity of the
outer peripheral edge 16a connected to the vertical wall section 15b. Furthermore,
the location where the maximum sheet-thickness reduction section occurred was at
the metal sheet (metal sheet B) on the side of lower equivalent strength in the vicinity
of the weld line L. The results are shown in Table 1 below.
[0065]
[Table 1]
Weldingline
First
Angle 8
rol
23
40
72
86
[0066]
BM Welding-line
Direction Strain
dey'
0.151
0.144
-0.010
-0.019
TABLE 1
WL Welding-line Strain Relative Sheet-thickness
Direction Strain Difference Reduction Rate
dEWLy' ldey'- deWLy'l [%]
0.129 0.022 16
0.150 0.006 15
0.019 0.029 25
0.015 0.034-- 34
As shown in Table 1, the sheet-thickness reduction rate was lowest when the
welding-line first angle 8 was 40°. Therefore, in the present embodiment, based on
conditions actually used in press working, the welding-line first angle 8 is preferably
17 to 84°. This is because the sheet-thickness reduction rate can be kept low, and
thus the occurrence of cracking in the vicinity of the weld line can be suppressed.
The welding-line first angle 8 is preferably 17 to 71°, more preferably 19 to 71°, and
further preferably 25 to 71 o.
[0067]
22
The relative difference (ldcy'- dcWLy'l) between the WL welding-line direction
strain d£wLy' and the BM welding-line direction strain dEy' is preferably as small as
possible. Therefore, the relative difference is preferably not more than 0.030, more
preferably not more than 0.025, and further preferably 0.
[0068]
[Disposition of weld line in uniaxial tensile deformation field: welding-line
second angle y]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view to show a press-formed product by a hole
expansion test performed to investigate the disposition of the weld line in a uniaxial
tensile deformation field (stretch flange deformation field). FIG. 8 is a schematic
diagram to show the occurrence situation of strain in the stretch flange deformation
of the press-formed product shown in FIG. 7. Note that details ofthe hole
expansion test will be described in the following examples.
[0069]
The hole expansion test is a test to thrust a punch into a blank formed with a
circular hole, thereby expanding the hole in a concentric manner. As shown in FIG.
7, a press-formed product 30 shaped by the hole expansion test has a hole 30a. A
circular area 31 surrounding the hole 30a becomes a stretch flange deformation field.
For that reason, the circular area 31 corresponds to the above described arc-shaped
area 14, and the hole 30a corresponds to the inner peripheral edge 14b of the above
described arc-shaped area 14. Here, consider a case in which the weld line L
intersects with the circumferential direction of the hole 30a (that is, a tangential
direction of the hole 30a at the intersection point between the weld line L and the
hole 30a) at an angle y (that is, the above described welding-line second angle).
[0070]
In the stretch flange deformation field in the hole expansion test, as the
working tool (punch) enters and advances, the blank stretches in a direction along the
moving direction of the working tool. This direction is a radial direction of the hole
30a as shown by a solid-line arrow in FIG. 8. Moreover, as the hole 30a expands,
the blank stretches in a direction perpendicular to the direction along the moving
direction of the working tool. This direction is the circumferential direction of the
hole 30a (tangential direction of the hole 30a) as shown by hatched arrows in FIG. 8.
23
Here, the deformation of the blank in the radial direction of the hole 30a is
determined by a strain ratio l3 of uniaxial tension. That is, supposing the strain in
the circumferential direction ofthe hole 30a to be dEx, the strain dEy in the radial
direction is determined by Formula (1) described above. Such stretch flange
deformation field is regarded as a uniaxial tensile deformation field.
[0071]
Since the hole 30a and the outer peripheral edge of the circular area 31 are
concentric circles in the press-formed product 30 by the hole expansion test, 9 can be
replaced by yin Formula (3) described above. In this case, supposing dEx to be 1,
the following Formula (4) will be derived. As shown in Formula (4), BM weldingline
direction strain dEy' varies depending on the angle y of the weld line (that is, the
welding-line second angle), and the r-value ofthe base metal sheet.
dey'= (cos y)2 + (-r)/(1 + r) x (sin y)2
••• (4)
[OOn]
FIG. 9 is a diagram to show correlation between the angle y of the weld line
and the r-value of the base metal sheet. FIG. 9 respectively shows situations of
cases in which the BM welding-line direction strain dey' is -0.2, -0.1, 0, 0.1, and 0.2.
[0073]
To suppress the occurrence of cracking in the vicinity of the intersection point
between the hole of the formed product by the hole expansion test (that is, the inner
peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area ofthe press-formed product) and the weld line,
it is necessary to arrange that the BM welding-line direction strain dEy' is -0.2 to 0.2.
Here, a common metal sheet (examples: hot-rolled steel sheet, cold-rolled steel sheet,
plated steel sheet, AI alloy sheet, and Ti alloy sheet) has an r-value of 0.5 to 3.0.
The r-value is that of the base metal sheet on the side of lower equivalent strength in
which cracking is more likely to occur. From what has been described so far, the
welding-line second angle y is preferably 42 to no.
[0074]
In the present embodiment, the welding-line second angle y may be defined to
be 40 to 75°, slightly wider than 42 to no. This is because, considering the amount
of deformation of an area which softens due to welding heat in the vicinity of weld
line, a slight extension of the angle y can be permitted.
24
[0075]
The BM welding-line direction strain dEy' is preferably as small as possible.
Therefore, the BM welding-line direction strain dey' is preferably -0.1 to 0.1, more
preferably -0.025 to 0.025, and further preferably 0. Accordingly, from FIG. 9, the
welding-line second angle y is preferably 45 to 66°, more preferably 47 to 62°, and
further preferably 48 to 60°.
[0076]
When shaping an outer as a press-formed product of the present embodiment,
steel sheet having a tensile strength of not lower than 440 MPa, AI alloy sheet, and
Ti alloy sheet, are used as a metal sheet. The r-values of these metal sheets are 0.5
to 3.0. Therefore, in this case, the welding-line second angle y is preferably 45 to
no.
[0077]
Besides, the present invention will not be limited to the above described
embodiments, and can be subjected to various modifications within a scope not
departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the press-formed
product will not be particularly limited as long as it includes a flange section formed
by stretch flange deformation. Moreover, an automobile skeleton component as a
press-formed product will not be limited to a front pillar lower-outer as long as it is a
component which is curved in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction, and is
supposed to be subjected to a collision load along an extended direction of the first
region, and may be a rear side outer, etc.
[0078]
Moreover, the TWB will not be particularly limited, as long as it is made up
of a plurality of metal sheets butt-welded together. For example, when the TWB is
made up of two metal sheets, it is only necessary that the metal sheets are different
from each other in at least one of tensile strength and sheet thickness. The TWB
may be made up of three or more metal sheets.
EXAMPLES
[0079]
[Hole expansion test]
25
A hole expansion test was conducted by using a TWB to investigate the
relationship between the welding-line second angle y and the formability.
[0080]
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view to schematically show an outline of a hole
expansion test. FIG. 11 is a plan view to show a TWB used in the hole expansion
test. As shown in FIG. 10, in the hole expansion test, a die 41 was used as an upper
die, and an aperture 41 a having a diameter of 54 mm was provided at the center of
the die 41. A round chamfered section 41 b having a radius of 5 mm was provided
on a peripheral edge at an entrance of an aperture 41 a. On the other hand, as a
lower die, a column-shaped punch 42 was disposed on a central axis of the aperture
41a ofthe die 41. The diameter of the punch 42 was 50 mm, and a round
chamfering radius of a shoulder section 42a of the punch 42 was 5 mm. Press
forming (hole expanding) was performed by thrusting the punch 42 into a blank 35.
Such thrusting was ended at a time point when cracking occurred at the hole 35a of
the blank 35. When press-forming, the peripheral edge section of the blank 35 was
held by the die 41 and the blank holder 43.
[0081]
As shown in FIG. 11, a TWB 35 made up of two metal sheets C and D buttwelded
together was used as the blank. The TWB 35 had a square shape, each side
of which had a length of 100 mm. A hole 35a having a diameter of 30 mm was
provided at the center of the TWB 35. In the TWB 35 before shaping, an angle a
(hereinafter, also referred to as a "weld line angle before shaping") formed by the
weld line Land a tangential line of the hole 35a at an intersection point between the
weld line Land the hole 35a was varied into 7levels of 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°,
120°, and 135°. Five pieces ofTWBs were prepared for each of the 7 levels, and
the hole expansion test was conducted for all the TWBs. The welding of metal
sheets C and D was conducted by laser welding.
[0082]
The metal sheet C was made of 980 MPa class High Tensile Strength Steel,
and its sheet thickness was 1.6 mm. The metal sheet D was made of780 MPa class
High Tensile Strength Steel, and its sheet thickness was 1.4 mm. That is, the
equivalent strength of the metal sheet C was higher than that of the metal sheet D.
26
[0083]
On the metal sheet D on the side of lower equivalent strength, an average rvalue
(average plastic strain ratio) at an additional strain amount of I 0% was
calculated in conformity with JIS Z 2254 (1996), and found to be 0.712. When the
r-value was 0.712, supposing the angle y be 57.2°, the BM welding-line direction
strain dsy' in Formula (4) described above will become 0 (zero).
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 7 described above, a diameter d2 (mm) of an expanded hole
30a in each formed product 30 after press forming (hole expanding) was measured.
From a diameter d1 (mm) of the hole 35a before shaping and the diameter d2 (mm)
of the hole 30a after shaping, a hole expansion rate 'A was calculated by the following
Formula (5). Further, in each formed product 30 after shaping, an angle formed by
the weld line L and a tangential line of the hole 30a at an intersection point between
the weld line L and the hole 30a, that is, a weld line second angle y was measured.
A= (d2- d1)/d1 X 100 ... (5)
[0085]
FIGS. 12A to 12D are each a photograph to show an appearance of a
representative press-formed product by a hole expansion test. Among these figures,
FIG. 12A shows a case in which a welding-line second angle y is about 43° (the weld
line angle before shaping is 45°). FIG. 12B shows a case in which the welding-line
second angle y is about 58° (the weld line angle before shaping is 60°). FIG. 12C
shows a case in which the welding-line second angle y is about 68° (the weld line
angle before shaping is 75°). FIG. 12D shows a case in which the welding-line
second angle y is about 90° (the weld line angle before shaping is 90°). In each of
FIGS. 12A to 12D, the photograph in the upper stage shows an overall view of the
hole 30a, and the photograph in the lower stage shows, in an enlarged view, a portion
of the intersection between the weld line Land the hole 30a. Moreover, an enlarged
photograph in the lower stage shows a location where cracking has occurred, by
encircling it with a two-dot chain line.
[0086]
It was confirmed that if the weld line was disposed in the stretch flange
deformation field as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D, cracking occurred in base metal
27
sheet in the vicinity of an intersection point between the weld line L and the hole 30a.
Moreover, at any level, cracking occurred in the metal sheet on the side of lower
equivalent strength (the metal sheet D in the present test). Results are shown in
Table 2 described below.
[0087]
[Table 2]
Welding-line
Second Angle y
rol
43
58
68
90
72
(108)
59
(121)
44
(136)
[0088]
TABLE2
Welding Line
Hole Expansion
Angle a before
Shaping rol Rate[%]
45 18
60 24
75 21
90 16
105 22
120 25
135 19
The hole expansion rate in Table 2 indicates an average value at each level.
The hole expansion rate became most favorable when the welding-line second angle
y was 59°. That is, it was revealed that disposing the weld line such that the BM
welding-line direction strain df:y' defined by the Formula ( 4) described above
decreases will enable improvement of formability while suppressing the occurrence
of cracking.
[0089]
[Collision test]
A front pillar lower-outer was adopted as a press-formed product of the
present embodiment and, on this outer, a test to confirm anti-collision performance
upon frontal collision was performed by an FEM analysis.
[0090]
28
FIG. 13 is a plan view to schematically show an outline of a collision test.
FIG. 13 shows an outer 10 and an impactor 51. In a collision test by FEM analysis,
a front end section of the first region 11 of the outer 1 0, that is, the front end section
on the side of the side sill was fixed to restrict displacement of the front end section.
In this state, the impactor 51 was moved in a horizontal direction at a speed of 15
km/h and was caused to collide with the curved region 13 ofthe outer 10. Then, the
impactor 51 was stopped at a time point when the amount of intrusion of the
impactor 51 into the outer 1 0 became 1 00 mm.
[0091]
At that time, the energy that the outer 10 absorbed as the impactor 51 intruded
into the outer 1 0 was determined. By dividing the absorbed energy of the outer 1 0
by the volume of the outer 10, absorbed energy per unit volume was calculated.
[0092]
FIGS. 14A to 14C are each a plan view to show a front pillar lower-outer used
in the collision test. Among these figures, FIG. 14A shows Comparative Example 1.
FIG. 14B shows Inventive Example 1 ofthe present invention. FIG. 14C shows
Comparative Example 2. In Comparative Example 1, as shown in FIG. 14A, the
weld line L was disposed in a straight-shaped portion of the first region 11 (on the
side of the side sill). In Comparative Example 2, as shown in FIG. 14C, the weld
line L was disposed in a straight-shaped portion of the second region 12 (on the side
of the front pillar upper). On the other hand, in Inventive Example 1 of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 14B, the weld line L was disposed in a curved region 13
including an arc-shaped area 14 shaped by stretch flange deformation. The
welding-line first angle e oflnventive Example 1 of the present invention was set to
58.2°, and the welding-line second angle y was set to 54.6°.
[0093]
In any of Inventive Example 1 ofthe present invention and Comparative
Examples 1 and 2, a metal sheet E was used as the metal sheet on the side of the
second region 12 (on the side of the front pillar upper) with respect to the weld line L,
and a metal sheet F was used as the metal sheet on the side of the first region 11 (on
the side of the side sill) with respect to the weld line L. The metal sheet E was
made of 980 MPa class High Tensile Strength Steel, and its sheet thickness was 1.2
29
mm. The metal sheet F was made of 780 MPa class High Tensile Strength Steel,
and its sheet thickness was 1.5 mm. The metal sheet E has a characteristic that it is
more subject to cracking compared with the metal sheet F, and the r-value of the
metal sheet E was 0.790.
[0094]
FIGS. 15A and 15B are each a diagram to show test results of a collision test.
FIG. 15A shows the absorbed energy of the outer. FIG. 15B shows the absorbed
energy per unit volume ofthe outer. From the results of FIGS. 15A and 15B, the
followings are indicated.
[0095]
As shown in FIG. 15A, in Comparative Example 1, as a result of the weld line
being disposed in the straight-shaped portion on the side of the side sill, absorbed
energy was poor. On the other hand, in Inventive Example 1 of the present
invention, as a result of the weld line being disposed in the specified area of the
present embodiment, absorbed energy was excellent. Moreover, in Comparative
Example 2, as a result of the weld line being disposed in the straight-shaped portion
on the side of the front pillar upper, absorbed energy was excellent.
[0096]
Here, the absorbed energy at the time of collision test varies depending on the
sheet thickness. As the area where the sheet thickness is large increases, absorbed
energy tends to increase. For that reason, the absorbed energy of Comparative
Example 2 which had a larger area of the metal sheet F with a larger sheet thickness
was slightly more excellent than the absorbed energy of Inventive Example 1 of the
present invention.
[0097]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15B, regarding the absorbed energy per
unit volume, Inventive Example 1 of the present invention was more excellent than
Comparative Example 2. This is due to the fact that, regarding the weight of the
outer, Inventive Example 1 of the present invention was lighter than Comparative
Example 2. Therefore, it became clear that in the viewpoint of combining weight
reduction and functional enhancement with a good balance, the outer of the present
embodiment excelled.
30
[0098]
[Material yield]
A front pillar lower-outer was adopted as the press-formed product of the
present embodiment, and material yield was investigated on a case in which the outer
was fabricated from a metal sheet.
[0099]
FIGS. 16A to 16D are each a schematic diagram to show a shape ofthe blank
used in press-forming, and the shape of the metal sheet before trimming work which
is used for making the blank. Among these figures, FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16D
show Comparative Examples 3, 4, and 5, respectively. FIG. 16C shows Inventive
Example 2 of the present invention. In FIGS. 16A to 16D, the shape of the blank
61 used in press-forming is shown with a two-dot chain line; the shapes of the first
metal sheet 62 and the second metal sheet 63 before trimming work used for making
the blank 61 are shown by a solid line; and the weld line L is shown by a thick line.
The first metal sheet 62 and the second metal sheet 63 before trimming work were
both made rectangular-shaped. An area 62a which was removed by trimming work
in the first metal sheet 62, and an area 63a which was removed by trimming work in
the second metal sheet are cross-hatched, respectively.
[0100]
As shown in FIG. 16A, in Comparative Example 3, a single metal sheet (first
metal sheet 62), not a TWB, was used as the blank for press-forming. As shown in
FIG. 16B, in Comparative Example 4, the weld line L was disposed in a straightshaped
portion on the side of the side sill. As shown in FIG. 16D, in Comparative
Example 5, the weld line L was disposed in a straight-shaped portion on the side of
the front pillar upper. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16C, in Inventive
Example 2 of the present invention, the weld line L was disposed in an area defined
in the present embodiment.
[0101]
FIG. 17 is a diagram to show an area of the blank which was removed by
trimming work for each oflnventive Example 2 of the present invention and
Comparative Examples 3 to 5. As shown in FIG. 17, the removed area ofthe blank
was minimum in Inventive Example 2 ofthe present invention. Therefore, it was
31
made clear that according to the outer of the present embodiment, material yield can
be improved.
[0102]
[Simple method for setting welding-line first angle 8 (second angle y)]
As described so far, disposing the welded line such that the relative difference
between the WL welding-line direction strain dEWLy' and the BM welding-line
direction strain dEy' (dEBMy') is not more than 0.030 will make it possible to suppress
the occurrence of cracking. Therefore, an optimum condition for suppressing
cracking is that the relative difference between dEwLy' and dEy' is 0. That is, dEWLy'
is equal to dEy'. Substituting this condition (dEWLy' =dEy') into Formula (2)
described above, and further dividing both sides of Formula (2) described above by
the circumferential direction strain dEx in the base metal sheet in the vicinity of the
weld line will lead to the following Formula (6).
dEWLy'/ dEx =(cos 8)2 + dEy/dEx x (sin 8)2
••. (6)
[0103]
In Formula (6), since the term "dEyldEx" in the right-hand side is strain ratio J3,
substituting the term "dEWLy'/dEx" by x will lead to the following Formula (7).
X= (cos 8)2 + J3 x (sin 8)2
••• (7)
[0104]
From Formula (7), for each welding-line first angle 8, the relationship
between a proportion X of WL welding-line direction strain dEWLy' with respect to
maximum principal strain dEx in the base metal sheet in the vicinity of the weld line,
and a strain ratio J3, is determined.
[0105]
FIG. 18 is a diagram to show an example of a relationship between a
proportion X of WL welding-line direction strain dEWLy' with respect to maximum
principal strain dEx, and a strain ratio J3. As shown in FIG. 18, as the strain ratio J3
increases, the proportion X increases. Further, for the same strain ratio J3, as the
welding-line first angle 8 decreases, the proportion X increases. Therefore, if the
WL welding-line direction strain dEWLy', the maximum principal strain dEx, and the
strain ratio J3 are known, it is possible to set the welding-line first angle 8 suitable for
32
suppressing cracking. The terms, dc:wLy', dc:x, and 13 can be easily calculated by an
FEM analysis and the like.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[OI06]
The present invention is usable for automobile skeleton components and
production thereof.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0107]
10: Front pillar lower-outer (press-formed product)
1 Oa: Top plate section,
1 Ob: First vertical wall section,
1 Oc: Second vertical wall section,
1 Od: First flange section,
1 Oe: Second flange section,
11: First region,
12: Second region,
13: Curved region,
14: Arc-shaped area,
15: Press-formed product,
15a: Top plate section,
15b: Vertical wall section,
15c: Flange section,
16: Arc-shaped area,
16a: Outer peripheral edge of arc-shaped area
16b: Inner peripheral edge of arc-shaped area
20: Blank (TWB),
21 : First metal sheet,
22: Second metal sheet,
25: Blank (TWB),
A, B: Metal sheet,
33
26: Die,
27: Punch,
28: Pad,
30: Press-formed product by hole expansion test,
30a: Hole,
31: Circular area,
35: Blank (TWB) for hole expansion test,
35a: Hole,
41: Die,
41a: Aperture,
41 b: Round chamfered section,
42: Punch,
42a: Shoulder section,
43: Blank holder,
51: Impactor,
61: Blank,
62: First metal sheet,
62a: Area of first metal sheet to be removed by trimming,
63: Second metal sheet,
63a: Area of second metal sheet to be removed by trimming,
L: Weld line.
34
We claim:
1. A press-formed product comprising a tailored blank made up of a plurality of
metal sheets butt-welded together, wherein
the press-formed product includes a flange section, and an arc-shaped area in
which an inner peripheral edge is open in the area of the flange section,
a weld line of the tailored blank intersects with the inner peripheral edge of
the arc-shaped area and an outer peripheral edge ofthe arc-shaped area, and
an angle formed by the weld line and a maximum principal strain direction is
17 to 84°.
2. The press-formed product according to claim 1, wherein
an angle formed by the weld line and a tangential line of the inner peripheral
edge at an intersection point between the weld line and the inner peripheral edge is
40 to 75°.
3. The press-formed product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
a number of the metal sheets for making up the tailored blank is two, and the
two metal sheets are different from each other in at least one of tensile strength and
sheet thickness.
4. The press-formed product according to claim 3, wherein
the press-formed product is an automobile skeleton component which is
curved in an L-shape along the longitudinal direction, the skeleton component having
a hat-shaped cross section over an entire range in the longitudinal direction;
the skeleton component includes a curved region curved along the
longitudinal direction, and a first region and a second region, respectively extending
from both ends of the curved region, the skeleton component being supposed to be
subjected to a collision load along an extended direction of the first region;
the arc-shaped area is a flange section on an inner side of curve of the curved
region; and
35
a sheet thickness of the metal sheet disposed on the side of the first region is
larger than a sheet thickness of the metal sheet disposed on the side of the second
regwn.
5. The press-formed product according to claim 4, wherein
the skeleton component is a front pillar lower-outer, and
the first region is coupled to a side sill, and the second region is coupled to a
front pillar upper.
6. The press-formed product according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
a difference between a multiplication value of a tensile strength and a sheet thickness ofthe metal sheet disposed on the side of the first region, and a
multiplication value of a tensile strength and a sheet thickness of the metal sheet
disposed on the side of the second region is not more than 600 mm·MPa.
7. A method for designing a press-formed product, the press-formed product
being shaped by press working from a tailored blank made up of a plurality of metal
sheets butt-welded together, wherein
the press-formed product includes a flange section, and an arc-shaped area
which is formed by stretch flange deformation and in which an inner peripheral edge
is open, in the area of the flange section, in which a weld line of the tailored blank
intersects with the inner peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area and an outer
peripheral edge of the arc-shaped area, and wherein
when designing the press-formed product, the weld line is disposed such that
during press working, a relative difference between strain dEwLy' in a direction along
the weld line at a center in a width direction of the weld line, and strain dEy' in a
direction along the weld line in the vicinity of the weld line of the metal sheet is not
more than 0.030.
8. The method for designing a press-formed product according to claim 7,
wherein
the relative difference between strain dEwLy' and strain dEy' is 0.