An Innovative Shearing Process for AHSS Edge Stretchability Improvements

A beveled shear hole piercing process has recently been developed for advanced high strength steel (AHSS). The preliminary results have shown the new process is able to improve the quality of the sheared edge and the edge stretchability of AHSS. The goal of the current study is to optimize the beveled shearing process and identify the optimal shearing conditions for AHSS. Four different advanced high strength steels, including DP600, DP780, TRIP780, and DP980 with various thicknesses together with a conventional high strength steel, HSLA50, are selected in this study. The hole expansion test is used to evaluate the effect of shear edge conditions on the edge stretchability. The results show that an optimal selection of the die clearance and the shearing angle results in a less damaged edge, which significantly delays edge fracture in the forming process and increases the edge stretchability for AHSS. To further validate the advantages of the beveled shearing process in improving the shear edge quality of AHSS, a straight edge shearing device with the capability of adjusting the shearing variables (rake angles and die clearance) with respect to different sheet thicknesses was also developed and built. The edge stretchability of the straight edge sheared specimen was then evaluated using the sheared edge tension test. A similar trend to the beveled shear hole piercing process of AHSS is observed, and a significant improvement in the edge stretchability is also obtained with optimal shearing conditions.