Enhanced material model helps manufacturers see the Lite

20 Jan 2009

Released as a module inside ESI’s forming simulation software PAM-STAMP™ and as an option of AUTOSTAMP™, the Corus Vegter series of data models significantly improve the accuracy of forming simulation used to validate pressing operations of vehicle body components.  With the advent of a new generation of high strength steels - particularly the dual-phase steels now being widely used in vehicle body construction - the Corus Vegter data model has brought new levels of accuracy previously unavailable from the standard plasticity models which experience has shown seldom coincide completely with actual measured material properties. The Corus Vegter material model was developed to alleviate this, and gives improved descriptions of both yield locus and strain hardening.

Corus Vegter Lite has been designed to generate even faster forming strain simulations and support a ‘right first time’ approach for the production of stamped panels.  As well as helping to reduce customer product development lead times and costs, this new variation of the Vegter simulation model allows customers to ensure a more consistent quality of complex formed body panels at the vehicle development phase, leading to high confidence in subsequent volume production. 

Commenting on the added benefits to customers of using Vegter Lite, Carel ten Horn, Corus RD&T, IJmuiden, said:  “The Vegter Lite model development has reduced the number of physical test results used to create the data for the model from nine to just four - three of which are conventional tensile tests, and the fourth either a bulge or a stack-compression test.  Importantly, not only have we been able to eliminate some of the most costly test work essential for the model to work, but user-friendliness has been improved at the same time.”

Vegter Lite, which is unique in the marketplace for digital simulation material models, directly responds to customer demands for affordable and straightforward strain prediction. The model was presented at EuroPAM, the user conference of Corus partner ESI software, earlier in 2008 and received the highest rating from conference delegates.  

Ends

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 Moss +44 (0) 207 494 8050                 bmoss@automotivepr.com

Note to editors:

Corus 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)

Corus is Europe's second largest steel producer with annual revenues of over £12 billion and a crude steel production of about 20 million tonnes. With main steelmaking operations primarily in the UK and the Netherlands, Corus provides innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus is a subsidiary of the Tata Steel Group, a global top ten steelmaker. With the recent acquisition of Corus, the combined enterprise has an aggregate crude steel production capacity of around 28.1 million tonnes with approximately 82,700 employees across the four continents.