A presentation by Michael Palko, Ford Motor Company, at the 2019 Great Designs in Steel.
This presentation will summarize work of the Auto/Steel Partnership (A/SP) project, repairability of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS). This project is focused on the evaluation of various weld repair processes and to provide joint test data for use by OEMs. The materials tested were MS1500, MS1700 and press-hardened steel (PHS). The team evaluated the following joining processes; resistance spot welding (RSW), metal inert gas (MIG) welding, MIG brazing and mechanical fastening. Production and service adhesives were also considered. The team utilized coupon test assemblies fabricated from various grades of AHSS. A variety of repair process joints were destructively tested. The test parameters included shear tension and cross tension quasi-static, shear tension fatigue, and cross-sections. The resulting data can be used by OEMs to update repair process strategies using these advanced high-strength steels.