Abstract
In this paper, an experimental micro-hardness procedure is proposed to evaluate the evolution of HSLA steel behaviour during each sequence of sheet forming process. As micro-hardness technique offers a reliable inspection, it was retained here to follow the mechanical characteristic changes, which may happen during manufacturing progress. This contribution consists in characterisation of sheet material at different steps: virgin sheet, unreeled sheet, straightened sheet and bent sheet. Measurement performed on virgin HSLA steel showed that material is highly heterogeneous within the sheet thickness. The micro-hardness profiles examined after the bobbing-off step showed a high sensitivity of sheet behaviour to straightening operation that is widely adopted in steel working in order to make sheet sufficiently flat for forming. A level of hardening ratio between virgin material and straightened material has been clearly observed. Moreover, micro-hardness is investigated on bent parts at the fold zone for displaying the mechanical properties modifications under a large gradient deformation. In this way, hardening phenomenon and damage phenomenon, which are generally activated simultaneously for elastoplastic steel, are quantified accurately. Results compared into them gave a good idea about the interaction of process–material during manufacturing.