Search Results (5)

The application of advanced high-strength steel grades (AHSS) in different kinds of industry is connected to more than their attractive mechanical properties. The present paper focuses on improving the welding Docol 1300M steel to reach an acceptable microstructure and mechanical parameters. It was decided to manufacture joints with different welding parameters using different filler materials. The electrode wires were varied to increase the carbon content in the weld, and nitrogen was added to the argon shielding mixture to obtain non-metallic inclusions that strengthen the fusion zone. Specimens of joints welded with the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process for non-destructive and destructive tests were examined. Tensile and bending tests as well as microscopic inspections using a light (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were also conducted. The results from the fatigue test confirmed the validity of the proposed welding process for the Docol 1300M joint. The collected data enabled the following conclusion: The article’s novelty is represented by the use of shielding gas mixtures containing argon and nitrogen in the GMAW welding process of AHSS steel to create titanium non-metallic inclusions, which will translate into better performance properties of the entire joint. Full article

The crushing response of a laser-welded square tube absorber made of two commercial steel grades, Docol 1000DP and Docol 1200M, is presented in the paper. Crush experiments are performed at two different loading conditions, namely, quasi-static loading at 0.5 mm/s deformation speed and impact loading at 25–28 m/s. A new approach has been proposed to study the square tube absorber under impact loading using a direct impact Hopkinson (DIH) method. To characterize the mechanical properties of the tested steels, tensile quasi-static and high strain rate testing are also performed with the use of specimens with a 7 mm gauge length. The applied strain rates are 10⁻³, 10⁰, and above 10³ s⁻¹. The laser-welded joints are also characterized by microhardness test involving the base material, heat-affected zone, and fusion zone. The crashworthiness of model square tube absorbers is estimated based on the following parameters: absorbed energy, mean force, crushing force efficiency factor, and specific energy absorbed. It has been found that the square tube absorbers made of Docol 1200M steel show a higher potential in mechanical energy absorption capacity than Docol 1000DP absorber. Moreover, crushing tests prove that laser-welded joints in 0.6 mm sheets made of Docol 1000DP and Docol 1200M steels reveal high cracking toughness. In turn, strength testing at different strain rates confirms the higher strain rate sensitivity of Docol 1000DP steel than in the case of Docol 1200M steel as well as an increase in the high ductility properties of both steel grades under the high strain rate loading conditions. Full article

Modern means of transport will play a significant role in the smart city. In the automotive industry, high-strength steels such as Docol are employed more often. This kind of material is relatively not very well weldable. The main reason is related to the Heat Affect Zone, the region in which cracks occur. Another disadvantage is connected with differences in values of ultimate strength of parent and weld material. The differences can be diminished using the correct welding process, which employs nickel and molybdenum electrode wires at much lower sulfur content. The weld metal deposit contains mainly martensite and bainite with coarse ferrite, while the parent material contains mainly martensite and rather fine ferrite. New technology, micro-jet cooling after the joining process enables to obtain the microstructure of weld metal deposit at acceptable parameters. Welding with micro-jet cooling could be treated as a very promising welding Docol steels process with high industrial application. Results of non-destructive inspections on macro samples corresponded with further destructive test results (tensile strength, hardness, fatigue, metallographic structure analyses). This article aims to verify fatigue behavior of Docol 1200 M steel after welding supported by the cooling using the micro-jet technique. For the first time, micro-jet cooling was used to weld this kind of steel to check the mechanical properties of the joint, especially to determine the fatigue limit. This study is formulated as follows: investigating fatigue resistance of the Docol 1200 M weld manufactured at the cooling process with micro-jets. The joints were produced in the MAG (Metal Active Gas) technology modified by micro-jet cooling. The results collected in the fatigue test were processed in the form of the Wöhler’s S–N diagram following the fatigue limit of the weld examined. All data have indicated the possibility of obtaining a new method of welded joints with high fatigue limit minimum of 480 MPa. It could be important to achieve a tensile strength of 700 MPa while maintaining the best relative elongation at the level of the base material. Full article

The study presents the results of remote robotic laser welding of advanced high strength Docol^® 1200 M martensitic steel. One mm thick samples were welded in a lap joint configuration using a special clamping system. Welding was done using a continuous-wave (CW) fibre laser with a constant welding power of 300 W and constant focus diameter Ø 1.8 mm. Welding was done using 12 different welding speeds in the range from 0.15 to 1 m/min, whereas the inclination angle was kept constant at 0°. The influence of various welding speeds and linear heat inputs during welding on microstructural changes were examined by the occurrence of acicular and allotriomorphic ferrite or martensite. Results revealed big influence of the clamping system on the accumulation of the laser beam energy, heat sink and consequently weld size and geometry, as well as its microstructure and joint strength. Tensile-shear strength, microstructure and hardness results confirmed laser power of 300 W and 0.6 m/min welding speed as the optimal parameters, at which a martensitic structure was obtained in the weld. The width of the heat affected zone (HAZ) in this case is 1100 μm. Full article

Hot stamping of sheet metal is an established method for the manufacturing of light weight products with tailored properties. However, the generally-applied continuous roller furnace manifests two crucial disadvantages: the overall process time is long and a local setting of mechanical properties is only feasible through special cooling techniques. Hot forming with rapid heating directly before shaping is a new approach, which not only reduces the thermal intervention in the zones of critical formability and requested properties, but also allows the processing of an advantageous microstructure characterized by less grain growth, additional fractions (e.g., retained austenite), and undissolved carbides. Since the austenitization and homogenization process is strongly dependent on the microstructure constitution, the general applicability for the process relevant parameters is unknown. Thus, different austenitization parameters are analyzed for the conventional high strength steels 22MnB5, Docol 1400M, and DP1000 in respect of the mechanical properties. In order to characterize the resulting microstructure, the light optical and scanning electron microscopy, micro and macro hardness measurements, and the X-ray diffraction are conducted subsequent to tensile tests. The investigation proves not only the feasibility to adjust the strength and ductility flexibly, unique microstructures are also observed and the governing mechanisms are clarified. Full article