A manufacturing process using the infrared ray local heating method for seat cross members

Recent studies have shown that the infrared (IR) local heating method drastically reduces springback of advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs). Though the IR local heating method saves heating energy because it utilizes focused IR rays to heat only the plastic deformation zone, there has yet to be an attempt to show that the heating method can be applied to industrial manufacturing processes. In this work, the IR local heating method is used to manufacture a seat cross member. Seat cross members require high strength because they are responsible for protecting passengers from broadside collisions. Although AHSS is preferred in seat cross members, the large amount of springback of AHSS makes a problem in the accuracy of the shape. This work verifies that the IR local heating method is able to make the seat cross member with the target shape in the manufacturing process. A thermo-mechanical analysis was also conducted with the finite element method to discuss the springback results.