Influence of Electrode Pressure and Welding Conditions on the Maximum Tensile Shear Load-Study on the Development of Electrode Force Changeable Lap Resistance Spot Welding Machine and Characteristics of Welds (Report 2)-

Abstract

Lap resistance spot welding was performed on cold rolled steel (SPCC) with an electrode force changeable lap resistance welding machine the authors had developed. We evaluated the welds by ultrasonic testing (immersion method, C-scope representation) and a tensile shear test, and compared the results for this method with those by the conventional method. It was useful to apply the ultrasonic testing to evaluate the welds. Usually plug-type fracture was observed in the tensile shear test and the maximum tensile shear load was larger than those estimated using the value of the minimum strength (290 MPa) of SPCC specified by the Japanese Industrial Standard, though some specimens fractured along the weld interface. Regression analysis was performed by setting the maximum tensile shear load as a dependent variable, and setting the initial electrode force, the welding current, the initial electrode force timing and the latter electrode force as independent variables. The result shows that only the initial electrode force and the welding current were significant. The maximum tensile shear strength increased by increasing the welding current and decreasing the initial electrode force. It was made clear that we could obtain better spot welds by using the process we developed than the conventional spot welds.