Application of high strength steels to responsible welded structures on motor vehicles

Abstract

There is constant tendency of engineers to decrease a weight of vehicles and to increase their capacity and mobility. Parallel with development of high strength steels, which starts in 90's years of last century, starts their application in industry for producing motor vehicles with special purpose (construction mechanization vehicles, fire and military vehicles, etc.). With increase of strength of used materials there are conditions for using lower thickness of cross sections what have direct influence to the weight reduction. With respect to that, one of the most used method for producing that kind of structures is welding, in this paper is analyzed the weldability of used HS steel and it is proposed the optimal welding technology for welding HSS class S690QL. The assemblies and parts on one military vehicle are made of that steel. The optimal welding technology should preserve good mechanical properties in weld metal, transition zone and in HAZ as the most critical zone of the welded joint.