Analytical prediction of springback in bending of tailor-welded blanks incorporating effect of anisotropy and weld zone properties

An analytical model for the prediction of springback in bending of longitudinally welded tailor-welded blanks of different thickness is presented in this paper. The effect of strain hardening, anisotropy and weld zone has been incorporated in the analytical model. Power law of strain hardening and Hill’s anisotropic yield criterion have been used in the development of the analytical model for prediction of springback in tailor-welded blanks. The predicted values of springback are validated with experiments on V-bending of laser-welded blanks of Extra Deep Drawing quality steel sheets. Longitudinally welded specimens of three different thickness combinations with weld line oriented at 0°, 45° and 90° to the rolling direction are tested to investigate the effect of anisotropy. The springback values predicted by the analytical model incorporating the weld properties are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results in all of the cases. The springback has been found to be maximum when the weld line is oriented at 45° to the rolling direction.