Assembly force modelling method on fixtures of automotive body compliant sheet metal parts

Abstract

Some assembly forces will be generated on fixtures because of some existing variation sources during the welding process of automotive body compliant metal parts. This article proposes an assembly force modelling method on fixtures during the welding process of compliant sheet metal parts to decrease the assembly forces. The assembly force models on fixtures are established to show the influence relationship between assembly forces and all variation sources, and the finite element method is used to obtain all influence coefficients of assembly forces. The obtained assembly force models on fixtures describe the propagating principle of assembly forces in all welding subprocesses. Cases of different fixture layouts show that the fixture layout can greatly influence assembly forces on fixtures. So assembly forces on fixtures can be decreased through the optimization of variation sources and the fixture layout. This method can also be referred for other assembly processes, such as adhesive connection and fastener connection of compliant sheet metal parts.