Corus develops integrated CAE-based optimisation tool for weld durability and performance assessment of automotive structures

17 Jul 2007

• New CAE tool will help OEM’s optimise component design
• Integrated approach will help reduce new model development time and costs

Corus, the international steel company, has developed a new computer aided engineering (CAE) approach to weld durability and performance assessment, which they believe will help automakers optimise component design and weld performance in vehicle structures.   Importantly, Corus also believe its unique software tool will help OEMs reduce new vehicle development time and costs in addition to reducing component costs.

Automakers today are under growing pressure to bring new cars to market faster and are increasingly using Computer-Aided Engineering in almost all areas of the development process and car design.  However, until now, CAE has not been widely used in the area of weld performance and durability assessment.

Nick Busby, Commercial Manager, Automotive, Corus Strip Products UK, said:  “Historically, the ability to assess how a weld performs on a vehicle structure has posed particular challenges.  Existing durability tests are very time consuming and can lead to development delays and sometimes less than optimum designs of components.”

The challenge for Corus was to develop a technique that could automate the complex task of generating an optimum weld pattern for a given vehicle component at the lowest welding cost whilst still meeting all manufacturing and performance targets.  In addition, to be successful, the CAE tool needed to be able to manage, assess and analyse multiple variables of weld patterns all in one single routine, thereby allowing engineers to quickly optimise the design for durability.  

Commenting on Corus’ ability to offer the automotive industry innovative vehicle engineering solutions Jon King, Director Corus Automotive Engineering added:  “To develop the new CAE tool, Corus Automotive Engineering, based at Warwick University, and the company’s Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) operation based in IJmuiden, Holland, were able to utilise and combine the company’s extensive materials expertise with a core knowledge in vehicle structural performance.”

Mr Busby concluded:  “This unique approach, coupled with Corus’ continued investment in the latest IT systems that are required to power state-of-the-art CAE tools, has resulted in a new automated process that will significantly speed up weld design modification and optimisation leading to improved component performance and ultimately offering our OEM customers the ability to reduce vehicle development time and costs.”

Press release can be downloaded from websites: www.automotivepr.com  and www.corusautomotive.com

Corus Automotive media enquiries:

Marco Ferrari +44 (0)207 494 8050                     mferrari@automotivepr.com

Belle Wilson +44 (0) 207 494 8050                     bwilson@automotivepr.com

Corus National media enquiries:

Annanya Sarin, Corporate Relations Tel.   +44 (0) 20 7717 4532

About Corus

Corus is Europe's second largest steel producer with revenues of £9.7 billion and crude steel production of 18.3 million tonnes in 2006, primarily in the UK and the Netherlands. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength, providing innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, the world's sixth largest and second most global steel producer.  With a combined presence in nearly 50 countries, Tata Steel including Corus has 84,000 employees across five continents and a pro forma crude steel production of 27 million tonnes in 2007.

Corus in Automotive

Corus is one of the leading suppliers of steel products, services and technology to the automotive industry. A broad range of Corus steels, ranging from strip and engineering steels to tubes, are used by our customers to make products that are used in body-in-white, closures, chassis and suspension systems, powertrain, seating systems, safety systems, interior trim and other components.  Corus is committed to the global automotive industry, uniquely combining its materials and vehicle engineering knowledge to respond cost-effectively to key drivers of importance to the sector, such as safety, fuel-efficiency, innovation and the environment. The Company actively supports supply chain initiatives that improve efficiency and enhance the value of steel used in automotive applications. For further information, view the Corus automotive website (www.corusautomotive.com).