Effect of manufacturing process on the final properties of advanced high strength steels for automotive applications

The performance of multiphase steels with high strength and improved toughness or ductility, such as intercritically annealed dual-phase (DP) and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, is of key importance to the automotive industry. In this work we have considered the entire manufacturing process and the effects of this on the final product performance. These steels are formed to produce the required final shape and then the car is paint baked. In this work we also consider the effect of cold working and bake hardening on the fatigue life of the components.