Mechanical Clinching Process Research Articles

Design Method of the Parameters of Tools for Clinching Technology

The mechanical clinching process was a new alternative method for metal sheet joining technology which geometrically constrains two sheets by local deformation. The tools geometry was crucial since it directly influences the joint resistance. How to determine the value of the tools parameters was always the difficulty. In view of this, a fast and efficient tools design method was proposed in this paper based on the mechanical relationship of process variable and FE-analysis technology. Besides, the tensile test and shear test results were shown in this study for proving the validity of the method which indicated that this design method could meet the requirements of the joint resistance and would bring much more convenience in clinching tools design.

Design Method of the Parameters of Tools for Clinching Technology

The mechanical clinching process was a new alternative method for metal sheet joining technology which geometrically constrains two sheets by local deformation. The tools geometry was crucial since it directly influences the joint resistance. How to determine the value of the tools parameters was always the difficulty. In view of this, a fast and efficient tools design method was proposed in this paper based on the mechanical relationship of process variable and FE-analysis technology. Besides, the tensile test and shear test results were shown in this study for proving the validity of the method which indicated that this design method could meet the requirements of the joint resistance and would bring much more convenience in clinching tools design.

Parametric study on mechanical clinching process for joining aluminum alloy and high-strength steel sheets

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of process parameters on the joint characteristics of advanced high-strength steel DP780 and Al5052 alloy sheet in mechanical clinching process. The defects in the clinching joint, such as necking of the upper sheet, cracks in the lower sheet, and no interlocking, occur because of the different ductility between advanced high-strength steel and aluminum alloy. In this study, the effect of the process parameters of the clinching process on the joinability of advanced high-strength steel with Al5052 alloy was investigated using finite element (FE) analysis. From the result, the die radius, die depth, and die groove shape were mainly affected by the joinability of advanced high-strength steel with Al5052 alloy. H-type tension test was performed under the same condition as the FE analysis. In addition, the joint strength was determined by interlocking length as well as neck thickness.

溶融亜鉛－アルミニウム合金めっき鋼板の<br>メカニカルクリンチング

A mechanical clinching process for zinc-aluminum alloy coated steel sheets was developed to improve the corrosion resistance of joined sheets. In this process, the sheets are joined by local hemming with a punch and a die without heating; thus, problems with reductions in electrode life and the thickness of the coating layer in resistance welding are solved. The shaving of the coating layer on the side wall of the depression by the punch was prevented by increasing the corner radius of the punch. The stretching of the coating layer on the top of the projection was minimized by flattening the bottom of the die. The thickness of the coating layer and the corrosion resistance of the joined sheets were improved by optimizing the shapes of the punch and die. Although the corrosion resistance of the joined sheets was 55% of that of the initial coated sheet, the resistance became threefold the resistance of the welded sheets.