WorthTruck
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Avdelningen för Material- och solidmekanik |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 922 000 |
| Project duration | November 2017 - April 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | EUREKA network projects |
Purpose and goal
Lightweight design for heavy vehicles is handled through optimization of materials, forming processes and simulation technology. Material development in advanced high strength steels (AHSS) offers the best solution to date for safety and lightweight design at reasonable costs. The project´s improved analytical methods for predicting solid transformations and its relation to fracture properties allow optimization of properties in thick press-hardened sheet metal for impact resistance and light weight in the development and manufacturing of truck components.
Expected results and effects
Gestamp and LTU have developed simulation models for press hardening of thin sheets for passenger cars (thickness up to 2 mm). This knowledge and expertise has been used to further develop simulation methods for predicting final properties in thicker plates with varied microstructure. In particular, the properties of bainite have been studied and a new methodology for the prediction of properties in microstructures with elements of different variants of bainite has been developed. The new methodology provides radically improved results.
Planned approach and implementation
Bainitic microstructures through press hardening show higher fracture toughness than fully martensitic. The fracture toughness is a measure of the resistance of a material to cracking and fracture and can be used to estimate crash performance. Optimization of press hardening parameters for thick sheets is intended to provide improved crash performance, which in turn enables weight reduction of components in heavy vehicles. Various methods for producing zones with bainite have been studied in the project. A laser process show a very promising method compared to using heated tools.