Tailor welded blank for fluid forming operation

A tailor welded blank for use in a fluid-forming operation, comprising:

• a first sheet element having at least one physical characteristic with a first value;
• a second sheet element having said at least one physical characteristic with a second value different from said first value, said first and second sheet elements being welded together at abutting edges of said first and second sheet elements to form at least a portion of a tailor welded sheet blank,
• whereby when said tailor welded blank is processed in a fluid forming process fluid pressure acts on one side of said sheet blank including one side of said first and second sheet elements and said weld at said abutting edges to push the other side of said blank including the other side of said first and second sheet elements against a forming surface, said first and second values of said at least one physical characteristic result in said first and second sheet elements having approximately equal effective strength values such that said first and second sheet elements deform at an approximately equal rate during the fluid forming process and local thinning and failure initiation is reduced at said at least one weld region and throughout said first and second sheet elements.