Abstract: The present invention involves a method and apparatus to reliably determine dent resistance to localized loading, for example, denting of sheet panels of vehicle. The method and apparatus contain the following attributes: (i) an accurate Finite Element Model of the localized loading process; (ii) a statistically designed experimental approach incorporating the effects of panel geometry, thickness, mechanical behavior of the material, forming process and loading condition; and (iii) programmed regression models that outputs the performance under localized loading of the sheet metal panel with panel geometry, thickness of the sheet material, mechanical behavior of the material, behavior during the forming process and loading conditions as inputs.

Abstract: A method of predicting the performance of certain electromagnetic devices is based on the integrated average core loss (IACL) and the integrated average relative permeability (IAP) of the electromagnetic core material used in the devices. The method includes the steps of establishing the range of induced magnetic fields over which the device is designed to operate, measuring the core loss and relative permeability of the core material over the range of induced fields and calculating the IACL and IAP over the range. Performance parameters can then be predicted using equations based on the IACL and the IAP with coefficients and constants derived through linear regression analysis.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for preparing and chroming a blank of steel. This method reduces time and cost to the assembly process. The method includes the following steps: heating steel slabs to a pre-determined temperature, hot rolling the steel slabs to a pre-determined width/thickness; spraying the steel strips with water to remove scaling; pickling the steel strips in acid to remove scaling; rinsing and drying the strips; cold rolling the strips with an electron beam textured tandem mill into strips having a pre-determined thickness; cold rolling the strips with an electron beam temper mill; and stamping the steel strips into a bumper.

Abstract: A device for converting electrical energy into mechanical work is disclosed. The device includes a rotor body having a radial length, a ferromagnetic layer having a radial thickness, the ferromagnetic layer being disposed on the of the rotor body, wherein the radial thickness of the ferromagnetic layer is less than the radial length of the rotor body. The device further includes a conductive layer disposed on the ferromagnetic layer and a stator disposed substantially along the rotor body, the ferromagnetic layer and the conductive layer, wherein the stator is adapted to carry an alternating current signal.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method for hot-dip galvanizing and galvannealing which employs a bath of zinc and aluminum. Strips are immersed in the bath to produce substantially dross-free galvannealed and galvanized strips. The bath can have substantially the same effective aluminum concentration during galvannealing as during galvanizing, and the temperature set-point of the bath is at a temperature of about 440° C. to about 450° C.