Title: On modelling strategy of the weld line for tailor-welded structures under quasi-static and dynamic scenarios

Authors: Fengxiang Xu

Addresses: Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Abstract: Tailor-welded blanks (TWBs) have been widely applied in the automotive industry owing to better balance between light weight and crashworthiness. The obvious feature of the TWBs is the existence of weld lines. This paper numerically compares the modelling strategies of the weld line under quasi-static and dynamic events. A novel method with crossover scheme is proposed. For the quasi-static tests, those existing modelling methods such as rigid links (RL), onefold beam (OB)/twofold beam (TB), shell (SH)/solid model (SN) and new crossover model are compared. Note that the SH/SN model is considered to be accurate and as the baseline model. Through the deformation analysis and equivalent plastic strains under the static scenario, it indicates that the novel scheme is superior to other modelling methods. Then, the method is further applied to dynamic impacting. Those results provide important information for numerical modelling especially when TWBs are fabricated through different materials with a relatively higher thickness ratio.

Keywords: numerical modelling; TWBs; tailor-welded blanks; weld lines; quasi-static events; dynamic impact; automotive manufacturing; automobile industry; lightweight structures; crashworthiness; deformation analysis; plastic strain; laser welding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2016.080590

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2016 Vol.72 No.3, pp.230 - 247

Accepted: 08 Sep 2016
Published online: 30 Nov 2016 *

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