WELDING OF ADVANCED HIGH STRENGTH STEELS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

H. G. SVOBODA; C. MARCONI

Handbook of Welding: Process, control and simulation

Nova Science

Lugar: Hauppauge; Año: 2021;

Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) is a relatively novel family of steels different with high mechanical strength, ranging typically from 600 MPa to 1800 MPa. Dual Phase, Complex Phase, Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP), Hot Stamping and Quenching and Partitioning Steels are the more relevant materials of this family. It has been found particular interest for these materials in the automotive industry in the last years, being the welding of these steels a relevant issue. Among the welding processes more relevant to weld these materials are Laser Welding (LW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Resistance Spot Welding (RSW) and in the last years GMAW-Brazing and Friction Stir Welding (FSW) for similar and dissimilar materials. These materials are microstructurally designed to reach its high mechanical properties. In this sense, the welding thermal cycle could severely degrade the original microstructure, producing a drop in the local mechanical properties. Additionally, its high hardness requires, in thermomechanical processes like FSW or RSW, adjustments in the welding procedure in comparison with the conventional steels. As a consequence, the study of the effect of welding parameters in the microstructural evolution and the resulting mechanical properties is a challenge still open. This chapter addresses the state of the art in the welding of these materials oriented to automotive applications, remarking the main aspects to develop adequate welding procedures and the perspectives for the future.