A presentation given by Kenneth Cheong and Cliff Butcher, University of Waterloo, at the 2021 Great Designs in Steel.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of both steel gauge and punch radius on the bend performance metrics in three point bending. Current sharp-radius bend test methodologies, e.g., VDA238-100, will be evaluated and compared to proposed bend test variants to determine testing parameters that provide maximum test result delineation for crashworthiness evaluation. Results of focus will be peak load, bending angle at peak load, pre- and post-peak energy absorption, and total energy absorption. Additionally, the effects of steel gauge on the above-mentioned properties will be evaluated to determine expected variation for specification development. Correlation to component level testing may be performed as a secondary task to verify applicability of sharp radius three-point bending for crashworthiness evaluation.