Evaluation of local fatigue strength in spot weld by small specimen

Abstract

ABSTRACTIt has been reported that high strength steel sheet cannot improve fatigue strength of components with a spot weld. The purpose of this study is to discuss the dominant factors on the fatigue strength of spot weld in order to clarify the reasons. A new fatigue testing technique is developed for a small specimen with a total length of less than 3 mm, and the local fatigue strength of heat‐affected zone (HAZ), which is the crack initiation site in the joint, in a mild steel sheet (270MPa‐grade) and a high strength steel sheet (590MPa‐grade) are evaluated by this technique. The fatigue strength of HAZ is almost equal in both steels although the tensile strength of the 590MPa steel is higher than that of the mild steel. The stress in the tensile‐shear spot‐welded joint under cyclic loading and the residual stress by the spot‐welding are evaluated by finite element analyses. The residual stress is tensile in both steels. However, the plastic deformation takes place in the joint of the mild steel and this releases the residual stress. On the other hand, the stress in the 590MPa steel is elastic and the residual stress decreases the allowable alternating stress. The stress under the condition of the experimental fatigue limit of the joint considering the residual stress coincides well with the fatigue limit diagram of HAZ, which means that the fatigue limit of the joint is determined by the fatigue limit of HAZ and the residual stress.