Clinching of Dual-Phase Steels as an Alternative to Resistance Spot Welding

Abstract

Resistance spot welding is the dominant method for joining the materials in the car body production. Progressive materials are being developed to improve the car’s fuel consumption and the safety of passengers as well. Advanced high strength dual-phase steels are such materials. Despite of the dominancy of resistance spot welding in car body production, innovative methods are being developed to reduce the joining time, process costs and improve the load-bearing capacity of a particular joint. Mechanical clinching is such process. The research focused on the evaluation of the possibility of clinching as an alternative method to the resistance spot welding. Experimental samples were prepared from dual-phase steel sheets DP600. The samples were tested by uniaxial tensile test, microhardness test and metallographic observations. Both joining methods have advantages and disadvantages which could destine them for specific utilization. Clinching joining is a progressive, fast and low-cost technique, but the joint’s load-bearing capacity is lower when compared to resistance spot weld.