Design of Lightweight Steels for Industrial Applications

ended

The main goal of the DELIGHTED project is to gain fundamental understanding of the principles of microstructural design for engineering of perspective austenitic Fe–Al–Mn–C lightweight steels to reach the combination of mechanical and performance properties suitable for industrial applications. The optimum thermo-mechanical processing route(s) will be developed for the selected grades. Evolution of microstructure during hot rolling and further annealing treatments will be thoroughly investigated. The main emphasis will be laid on the understanding kinetics of formation and growth of kappa-carbides, which play the key role in mechanical response and technological performance of these materials. Analytical models to predict their mechanical properties as a function of microstructure will be developed. The effect of microstructural features of the lightweight steels on technological properties (such as fracture toughness, fatigue resistance, weldability, etc.) will be analysed. A prototype of the mini-tractor cabin will be designed and produced using the developed lightweight steel for the critical parts, which have to undergo crash testing due to safety requirements. The crash test simulating the overturning of the mini-tractor will be performed. The deformation and the toughness performances of the critical parts will be estimated. The outcomes of the experiment will be compared with the results obtained earlier from testing similar prototypes made of other commercial AHSS.