Finite Element Analysis of Reinforcement Rocker Part Made from JAC780Y Steel Sheets

Abstract

The manufacturing industries for automotive parts aim to develop technologies for reducing vehicle weight in order to decrease fuel consumption. However, passive safety function for drivers and passengers must not be impaired or should be even improved. Therefore, advanced high strength steel sheet plays more and more important role in designing automotive components. Nowadays, prediction of formability for sheet metal stamping has high capability more than the past. The major challenge is springback prediction. Moreover, it assists in the tooling design to correctly compensate for springback. Especially in automotive production, springback effects have been generally exhibited distinct after forming process of the high strength steel sheets. The springback effect occurred in the deformed state of metal parts must be taken into account by designing any sheet metal panels. Then, the purpose of the present research is to investigate the springback phenomenon of an automotive part named Reinforcement Rocker RL made from an advanced high strength steel grade JAC780Y, after stamping. In addition, the tools design has been carried out. Finite Element (FE) program known as DYNAFORM (based on LS-DYNA solver), has been applied to analyze and improve the springback effect on such forming part. An anisotropic material model according to type 36 (MAT_036 3-PARAMETER_BARAT) was applied. The results obtained from simulations were compared with required parts in each section. Then, the die surface from compensation in 2nd step forming was modified to use. Finally, the simulation part was verified with the real stamping part. It was found that the finite element simulation showed high capability for prediction and compensation of springback in high strength steel sheets forming.