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.