Processing routes, resulting microstructures, and strain rate dependent deformation behaviour of advanced high strength steels for automotive applications

Automobile industry is continuously striving to obtain light body-in-white structures to meet tightened regulations on flue-gas emissions/crash-testing parameters. 'Advanced high strength steels (AHSS)' find increased applications in the automotive industry because of improved crashworthiness/formability at reasonably low costs. AHSS category mainly includes transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steels, dual phase (DP) steels, complex-phase (CP) steels, and quenching-partitioning (Q&P) steels. AHSSs provide superior strength-ductility combination than conventional high-strength steels by virtue of their multi-phase microstructures. Mechanical properties of AHSSs are greatly influenced by processing routes/derived microstructures. Furthermore, mechanical properties/tensile deformation behavior are also strain rate dependent. During an automobile crash, deformation occurs at strain rates which are exceedingly higher than quasi-static conditions. So, investigation of AHSS properties under both quasi-static as well as high strain rates conditions is important to check applicability for superior crash-resistance. The present work critically reviews details of processing routes, room temperature microstructures, mechanical properties, and finally strain rate dependence of tensile deformation behaviour of AHSSs. Finally, main gaps in existing literature/scope for future research with regards to high strain rate deformation dependent properties of this steel category are presented.

Automated summary

The automotive industry is striving to achieve lightweight body-in-white structures to meet strict regulations on emissions and crash testing. Advanced high strength steels are increasingly used in the automotive industry due to their improved crashworthiness and formability at reasonable costs. The multi-phase microstructures of AHSS provide superior strength-ductility combination compared to conventional high-strength steels.