New steels for control arms and twist-beam axles

High-strength steel has until now been used primarily in the area of body components. Side impact bars in particular represent a component for which high-strength steels have almost become standard, since they offer very good crash characteristics [1]. In the area of chassis components, however, high-strength steels are not as yet state of the art. This article by Thyssen Umformtechnik + Guss GmbH describes the potential of high-strength steels with regard to lightweight design and the requirements of chassis specifications. In the chassis in particular, components are subject to severe safety demands, especially in a crash.