DUAL-TEN^® Brochure - Crash Performance

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Due to its higher tensile-to-yield ratio, DUAL-TEN^® steel has demonstrated enhanced crash performance when compared to conventional HSLA steel with similar yield strength and formability.  Using samples cut from a stamped automotive rail, as shown in Figure 9a, a drop tower test shows that DUAL-TEN^® 600/590 steel has at least 10% less crash distance, as shown in Figure 9b, when total drop energy is absorbed by the material at 46 km/hr drop speed.  It has also been shown that at least 10% downgauging is feasible when DUAL-TEN^® 600/590 steel replaces HSLA 340.
 

Figure 9a: Drop Tower Sample [3]	Figure 9b: Maximum Crash Distance from Drop Tower Test

The ability of DUAL-TEN^® steels to absorb more energy during a crash is demonstrated in Figure 10.  It is clearly shown from this hydro-formed rail that DUAL-TEN^® 600/590 steel absorbs more energy than HSLA 340 during the crash testing.

Figure 10: Energy Absorption of a Hydro-formed Rail During Crash [5]

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