A review on tailored blanks-Production, applications and evaluation

Tailored Blanks is the collective for semi-finished sheet products which are characterised by a local variation of the sheet thickness, sheet material, coating or material properties. With these adaptions the tailored blanks are optimised for a subsequent forming process or the final application. In principle four different approaches can be distinguished to realise tailored blanks: joining materials with different grade, thickness or coating by a welding process (tailor welded blanks), locally reinforcing the blank by adding a second blank (Patchwork blanks), creating a continuous variation of the sheet thickness via a rolling process (tailor rolled blanks) and adapting the material properties by a local heat treatment (tailor heat treated blanks). The major advantage of products made from tailored blanks in comparison to conventional products is a weight reduction. This paper covers the state of the art in scientific research concerning tailored blanks. The review presents the potentials of the technology and chances for further scientific investigations. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.