Assessing the Impact of Hole Piercing Edge Quality on Fatigue Samples for S550MC Steel Sheet

The exceptional strength, formability, and weldability of S550MC steel sheets make them a cornerstone material in the automotive industry. These properties translate into the creation of high-performance automotive components like chassis parts, structural reinforcements, ultimately contributing to enhanced vehicle safety and overall performance. Furthermore, S550MC steel boasts excellent fatigue resistance, a critical factor for ensuring long-term reliability in demanding automotive applications that experience repeated stress cycles. However, optimizing the performance of S550MC components depends on a fine understanding of the critical relationship between hole edge quality and fatigue failure. This study highlights the impact of hole-piercing clearance on the edge quality of the hole in modified fatigue samples manufactured from S550MC steel, and its effect on fatigue life. The surface morphology was characterized by using stereoscope for edge quality of hole piercing operation. Also, fatigue testing under cyclic loading conditions was conducted to determine fatigue behaviour. This study accentuates the critical role of optimizing hole-piercing processes to achieve superior edge quality. By minimizing stress concentrations features at the edges, the risk of fatigue failure can be reduced significantly. This results in greatly improving reliability and extending the lifespan of these components even under demanding operational environments. The research emphasizes the importance of detailed edge preparation method in improving the performance and durability of steel fabricated structures. This study offers invaluable insights in developing more effective manufacturing practices for steel components across a wide range of industrial applications.