THE INDUSTRIES USING SHEET STEEL ARE INCREASINGLY TURNING TO HIGH-STRENGTH STEELS. CONSEQUENTLY IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP UP RESEARCH ON THESE PRODUCTS AS REGARDS THEIR STRUCTURE AND SURFACE FINISH AND ALSO OF COURSE THEIR DEEP DRAWING PROPERTIES. THE PROPOSED PROJECTS CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVING THIS KNOWLEDGE.

THE TOPICS OF PROPOSED RESEARCH IN FORMABILITY OF THIN COLD-ROLLED STEEL SHEET ARE:

A) FLANGABILITY (HOLE-FLANGING AND FLANGE-BUCKLING)
B) STUDIES OF STRAIN GRADIENTS ACROSS THE SURFACE AND THROUGH THICKNESS OF SHEET.
THESE TOPICS DEAL WITH THE IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM OF MATERIAL VARIABILITY AND ITS ROLE IN FORMABILITY LIMITS.
THE VARIOUS TYPES OF STEEL WHICH IS PROPOSED TO STUDY ARE:
A) COLD ROLLED STEEL SHEET:
- LOW CARBON STEEL
- ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL
- TIN COATED CARBON STEEL
B) INCLUDING HIGH-STRENGTH GRADES:
- REPHOSPHORISED
- MICROALLOYED
- DUAL-PHASE
AND WILL BE PROVIDED BY EEC MANUFACTURERS.

THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH PROGRAMME WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN CLOSE SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STEEL INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES NAMELY THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN IN BELGIUM.