3rd generation AHSS grades are being developed to create higher strength and formability choices for carmakers.
The steel and automotive industries are researching new applications for steel, defining local material properties for specific manufacturing strain paths, and generating fatigue and corrosion resistance data to improve modeling predictions, vehicle performance and cost benefits.
In the past 10 years, new steel innovations have proven to reduce component mass by nearly 25% and more recent studies have increased the mass savings to 39% versus traditional mild steel benchmarks.
The industry is working to improve processing methods for AHSS with the development of unique, high-tech approaches to manufacturing parts from new steel grades.
Stamping and tooling operations are being examined, as well as joining strategies and models for formability, to enable the easy transition of new grades to existing stamping, joining and assembly processes.
IN SUMMARY