Application of Advanced Multiphase Steels in Crashworthiness Structures: Experimental Study and Constitutive Equations

This work presents results of tensile testing of advanced high strength steels of interest for crashworthy structures: Dual-Phase and TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) steels. The improvements in vehicle crashworthiness observed in recent years have been closely linked to advanced high-strength steels that are currently being produced or in process of development. Amongst these, Dual-Phase and TRIP steels have presented excellent properties for use in crashworthy structures. For these steel grades an understanding of material behaviour at relevant strain rates is needed as well as constitutive equations suitable for use in analytic and numerical calculations. For that purpose an experimental program of tensile testing was performed in a range of strain rates of interest for crashworthiness problems: 0.0001 /s to 1000 /s. The test results were used to compare material properties and to evaluate the Cowper-Symonds constitutive equation and a modified version. Crush tests were performed at different speeds for top-hat and hexagonal tubes manufactured using laser welding and the results discussed in view of energy absorption.