Abstract
Weld bead quality in tailored blank(TB) is critically affected by edge preparation of sheets. The edge quality of prepared sheets for TB can be classified into straightness and the cross section quality of sheared plane such as a ratio of shear face, shear plane angle, etc. In order to have a good edg quality for butt-welding sheets, precision shearing will be recommended. In this paper, the feasibility of a conventional mechanical shearing as the edge preparation for tailored blanks is studyied. It reveals that fine shearing may not be the unique solution as it is generally accepted. To obtain the good shearing condition with a conventional mechanical shearing, experiments were carried out using Tahuchi method. The major parameters affecting a sheared contour are the clearance between upper blade and lower blade, and shear angle. The optimal shearing condition yields a very good straightness along the entire length of the cut, which gives a butt joint gap less than 10% of the base material thickness. The good cross section of sheared plane is also achieved in the optimal shearing condition such as a ratio of the shear face above 65%, a cross section's shear plane angle above 85%, little burr, which is providing finally good weld beads.
