Local and global forming potential of present dual-phase steel developments

Abstract Modern car bodies are constantly relying higher proportions of high and ultra-high strength steels. In the past, the increase in material strengths led to a conflict regarding the complexity of component geometries. Limits of material formability are reached and compromises had to be made in part design. By integrating application-oriented problems into the material development, these limits are expanded with respect to the given requirements. Within the present study, for several dual-phase steels with a tensile strength ≥800 MPa, practical laboratory tests are presented and their benefits in press shop application. In particular influencing factors on stretch flange formability are presented and discussed for example cutting parameters, anisotropy, time between cutting and forming or the orthogonal strain gradient.