Characterization of AHSS by mechanical testing and fracture analysis

The automotive industry has searched for alternatives to reduce the weight of vehicles without neglecting the safety of users by using new materials. Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) of complex phase (CP) have been incorporated in recent years in structural applications requiring good performance and reducing the weight of vehicles at a low cost. However, these steels have shown to the occurrence of edge cracking during processing, which is a current challenge for steelmakers and other companies that rely on them for the manufacturing of structural components. Such defects can be associated to the interaction between the different microstructural constituents of the steel, such as different phases and precipitates generated during its processing to achieve their mechanical properties. The present work presents the studies conducted to evaluate the effect that processing and chemical composition exerts on the occurrence of edge cracking in complex phase steels of grade 800 MPa produced by different steelmaking routes.