Bendability of dual phase (DP) steels and V bend test parameter optimization

Technical centre of Toyota Motor Europe is responsible, among many others, for approval procedures regarding the materials which are subject to take part in the production processes along Europe. TME R&D deals with the concepts and investigations that are brought to attention in this study. Nowadays, with ever increasing necessity to come up with innovative body design of an average vehicle up to 80% of which is made of dual phase steel, preserving the desired characteristic material properties has great importance by means of obtaining and maintaining a high quality product under complex geometrical shapes that are foreseen and applied by a wide range of decision making organs such as designers and associated lower, middle and upper management. It is undoubtedly a challenging procedure to ensure the well-being of future use of the vehicle, in terms of resistance to customer and environmental based problems that are to be faced throughout the standard life cycle. In this sense, the crucial need for such materials to undergo testing and approval processes which would have to be compatible with the industrial bending applications in order to accomplish a stable and reliable primary control mechanism is a must and it is favoured and supported by any means. As to be mentioned in more detail later on, this study concerns developing and optimizing existing test parameters, for the so called V bend test, which are explained together with other relevant aspects throughout this investigation and results obtained will be supported by current technical awareness, as well as educated suggestions to ensure ultimate design is presented together with maximum quality.