Welding Of Advanced High Strength Steels For Automotive Applications

The use of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) is increasingly preferred in automotive applications due to improved crash energy management and enhanced strength-ductility combinations, resulting in greener and safer vehicles. The weldability of AHSS is generally poorer than conventional steels due to the high alloying contents required to obtain multi-phase microstructure. This course is aimed to discuss the (i) role of alloying elements in stabilizing multi-phase microstructures of AHSS, (ii) effect of weld thermal cycles on the evolution of microstructures and (iii) weldability of AHSS.INTENDED AUDIENCE : Final year bachelors and masters students in Metallurgy, Mechanical, Automobile and Production Engineering. Industrial personnel working in automotive and steel making industries.PREREQUISITES : Final year B.E/B.Tech students or Graduates of Metallurgical/Mechanical/Automobile/Production Engineering,Basic knowledge of steel physical metallurgy and welding processes.INDUSTRY SUPPORT : All automotive manufacturers and their OEMs and Steel plants.

Week 1: Introduction to physical metallurgy of advanced high strength steelsWeek 2: Introduction to welding processes in automotive industries (Advanced Gas Metal Arc, Resistance Spot and Laser Welding Processes).Week 3: Welding metallurgy of advanced high strength steels – Effect of weld thermal cycles on the stability of phases,solidification behaviour,segregationand hot cracking susceptibility.Week 4: Mechanical properties of advanced high strength steel weldments – Tensile shear testing, HAZ softening characteristics,role of modified weldthermal cycles (post pulsing and post weld heat treatments) to improve the mechanical properties