Experimental characterization of QP1180 steel and its performance in stamping simulation: Comparison with DP1180
Maria Emanuela Palmieri, Matteo Villa, Michele Abruzzo, Giuseppe Macoretta, Stefania Bruschi, Luigi Tricarico
Abstract. The increasing demand for lighter vehicles and improved safety has driven the adoption of Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS). Among these, third-generation Quenching and Partitioning (QP) steels stand out for their exceptional combination of ultra-high strength and ductility, attributed to the TRansformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) effect, making them highly suitable for automotive applications. This study focuses on the characterization of QP1180 steel using tensile tests, complemented by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to analyze mechanical behavior in different rolling directions (0°, 90°, 45°). The data obtained were then integrated into Finite Element (FE) software to simulate the stamping process of a B-Pillar. The simulation results were compared with those obtained from simulating the stamping process of a first-generation steel, DP1180, with a similar tensile strength. Finally, fractographic and microstructural analyses were performed to deepen the understanding of the steel’s fracture mechanisms.
Keywords
Stamping, High Strength Steel, Deformation-Induced Martensitic Transformation
Published online 9/10/2025, 8 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Maria Emanuela Palmieri, Matteo Villa, Michele Abruzzo, Giuseppe Macoretta, Stefania Bruschi, Luigi Tricarico, Experimental characterization of QP1180 steel and its performance in stamping simulation: Comparison with DP1180, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 57, pp 242-249, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903735-28
The article was published as article 28 of the book Italian Manufacturing Association Conference
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
References
[1] J. Huang, S. Li, H. Zhong, S. Xiao, D. Li, Microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of laser-welded dissimilar joints between DP980 and QP980 steel, Steel Res. Int. 93 (2022) 2100541. https://doi.org/10.1002/srin.202100541
[2] D.K. Matlock, S. Kang, E. De Moor, J.G. Speer, Applications of rapid thermal processing to advanced high strength sheet steel developments, Mater. Charact. 166 (2020) 110397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2020.110397
[3] F. Badkoobeh, A. Nouri, H. Hassannejad, H. Mostaan, Microstructure and mechanical properties of resistance spot welded dual-phase steels with various silicon contents, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 790 (2020) 139703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139703
[4] D.K. Kim, H.J. Kim, S. Gong, S.E. Shin, S.J. Lee, A comparative study on the wear behavior of dual phase (DP) steel and quenching and partitioning (QP) steel, Tribol. Int. 194 (2024) 109445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109445
[5] D.K. Kim, H.J. Kim, S. Gong, S.E. Shin, S.J. Lee, A comparative study on the wear behavior of dual phase (DP) steel and quenching and partitioning (QP) steel, Tribol. Int. 194 (2024) 109445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109445
[6] R. Kuziak, R. Kawalla, S. Waengler, Advanced high strength steels for automotive industry, Arch. Civ. Mech. Eng. 8 (2008) 103-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1644-9665(12)60197-6
[7] O. Kwon, K.Y. Lee, G.S. Kim, K.G. Chin, New trends in advanced high strength steel developments for automotive application, Mater. Sci. Forum 638 (2010) 136-141. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.638-642.136
[8] H. Jirková, L. Kučerová, B. Mašek, Effect of quenching and partitioning temperatures in the QP process on the properties of AHSS with various amounts of manganese and silicon, Mater. Sci. Forum 706 (2012) 2734-2739. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.706-709.2734
[9] Q. Liu, Q. Zhou, J. Venezuela, M. Zhang, A. Atrens, Hydrogen concentration in dual-phase (DP) and quenched and partitioned (Q&P) advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) under simulated service conditions compared with cathodic charging conditions, Adv. Eng. Mater. 18 (2016) 1588-1599. https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.201600217
[10] H.L. Yi, L. Sun, X.C. Xiong, Challenges in the formability of the next generation of automotive steel sheets, Mater. Sci. Technol. 34 (2018) 1112-1117. https://doi.org/10.1080/02670836.2018.1424383
[11] H.J. Kim, M.G. Lee, Analysis of hydrogen trapping behaviour in plastically deformed quenching and partitioning steel in relation to microstructure evolution by phase transformation, J. Alloys Compd. 904 (2022) 164018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164018
[12] J. Hu, G. Thomas, Evolving the “Banana Chart”: Temperature and strain rate effects on tensile properties of new-generation advanced high-strength steels, JOM 73 (2021) 3204-3213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-021-04900-x
[13] C.B. Finfrock, Temperature and strain rate dependence of the martensitic transformation and mechanical properties in advanced high strength steels, Ph.D. dissertation, Colorado School of Mines, 2022. 10.3389/fmats.2020.615361
[14] E. Seidi, S.F. Miller, F. Kaviari, L. Huang, T.B. Stoughton, Novel method to assess anisotropy in formability using DIC, Int. J. Mech. Sci. 285 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2024.109782
[15] C. Zhang, Y. Wang, Z. Chen, N. Yang, Y. Lou, T. Clausmeyer, Q. Zhang, Characterization of plasticity and fracture of a QP1180 steel sheet, Procedia Manuf. 50 (2020) 529–534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2020.08.095
[16] D. Banabic, Sheet Metal Forming Processes: Constitutive Modelling and Numerical Simulation, Springer Science & Business Media, 2010.
[17] W. Li, W. Wu, Q. Zhou, W. Li, J. Li, Analysis of hydrogen-induced delayed cracking and hydrogen trapping behavior in plastically deformed quenching and partitioning steel, Corros. Sci. 223 (2023) 111437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2023.111437.
