Abstract: A rocker panel for use in a vehicle, the rocker panel includes an outboard plate, an inboard plate, and a reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure is disposed between the inboard plate and the outboard plate. The reinforcement structure includes one or more discrete steel tubes extending longitudinally between the outboard plate and the inboard plate.

Abstract: A rocker panel for use in a vehicle, the rocker panel includes an outboard plate, an inboard plate, and a reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure is disposed between the inboard plate and the outboard plate. The reinforcement structure includes one or more discrete steel tubes extending longitudinally between the outboard plate and the inboard plate.

Abstract: A system for forming a steel material includes a first binder, a second binder, a punch and a carrier blank. The first binder and the second binder are configured to form a draw bead shape in the steel material by compressing the steel material between a draw bead protrusion and a draw bead channel. The punch is configured to form the steel material relative to the first binder and the second binder. The carrier blank is positioned on a surface of the steel material and is configured to cover a portion of the draw bead shape during formation of the draw bead shape in the steel material.

Abstract: Sheet metal forming is a manufacturing process in which flat sheet metal is drawn into a die cavity to form a product shape. Draw-in amount is the single most important stamping index that controls all forming characteristics (strains and stresses), formability failures (splits, wrinkles) and surface quality (distortions) on a panel. Adaptation of a new die set for repetitively stamping sheet metal parts to a part design specification is simplified by using a math-based simulation of the stamping operation under specified engineering stamping conditions for the specified part. The stamping simulations are used to create an engineered draw-in map comparing selected locations on the peripheral edge of the stamped part with corresponding locations on the peripheral edge of its original sheet metal blank.

Abstract: Sheet metal forming is a manufacturing process in which flat sheet metal is drawn into a die cavity to form a product shape. Draw-in amount is the single most important stamping index that controls all forming characteristics (strains and stresses), formability failures (splits, wrinkles) and surface quality (distortions) on a panel. Adaptation of a new die set for repetitively stamping sheet metal parts to a part design specification is simplified by using a math-based simulation of the stamping operation under specified engineering stamping conditions for the specified part. The stamping simulations are used to create an engineered draw-in map comparing selected locations on the peripheral edge of the stamped part with corresponding locations on the peripheral edge of its original sheet metal blank.