Spot-welded Joints Research Articles

Comparative Study on the Effect of External Magnetic Field on Aluminum Alloy 6061 and 7075 Resistance Spot-Welding Joints

This study investigates the effects of the external magnetic field on the microstructure and mechanical property aluminum alloy 6061-T6 and 7075-T651 resistance spot welding joints. The melting behavior of 6061 and 7075 was analyzed via the calculation of the phase diagram (CALPHAD) technique. The CALPHAD results indicate that, for the 6061 aluminum alloy, the liquid fraction shows a minimal increase at the beginning stage during the solid–liquid phase transition process but with a sharp rise at the ending stage (near the liquidus). In contrast, for the 7075 aluminum alloy, the liquid fraction gradually increases throughout the entire solid–liquid phase transition process. The differences in melting behavior between the 6061 and 7075 alloys lead to different liquation crack morphologies in their spot-welded joints. In the 6061 alloy, the cracks tend to be “eyebrow-shaped”, allowing the liquid metal in the nugget to feed the gaps, and this does not significantly compromise the mechanical properties of the joint. In contrast, the 7075 alloy develops slender cracks that extend through the partially melted zone (PMZ), making it difficult for the liquid metal to feed these gaps, thereby significantly deteriorating the joint’s mechanical strength. Compared to conventional resistance spot-welding joints, the heat exchange between the nugget and the workpiece is enhanced under the external magnetic field, leading to a wider PMZ. This exacerbates the detrimental effects of liquation cracks on the mechanical properties of the 7075 joints. Lap-shear tests indicate that the mechanical properties of the 6061 aluminum alloy joints are improved under electromagnetic stirring. For 7075 aluminum alloy joints, the mechanical properties improve when the welding current is below 34 kA. However, when the welding current exceeds 34 kA, because the widening of the PMZ increases the tendency for liquation cracks, the joint’s mechanical property is deteriorated.

An efficient synergistic double-sided friction stir spot welding method: A case study on process optimization, interfacial characteristics and mechanical properties of 2198-T8 aluminum‑lithium alloy joints

Friction stir spot welding has important applications in the joining of thin metallic plates. However, the asymmetric thermomechanical action inherent in the single-sided friction stir spot welding inevitably generates the hook defect at the joint interface, and the defect deteriorates with the improvement of the interfacial metallurgical bonding, which causes the irreconcilable contradiction and significantly restricts the breakthrough of the process stability and welding efficiency. The synergistic double-sided probeless friction stir spot welding (SDP-FSSW) technology proposed in this study adopts a dual-axis synergistic control system, which introduces intense plastic deformation from both sides of the interface to form a wavy hook by accurate axial motion during the welding process. This innovative process solves the problem of hook warpage while realizing rapid metallurgical bonding and mechanical interlocking at the interface, thus obtaining AA2198-T8 aluminum‑lithium alloy spot joints with a tensile/shear strength exceeding 9kN in a short dwell time (0–3 s). Through response surface methodology, the optimal process parameters are identified, i.e. rotation speed of 603 rpm, dwell time of 3 s, and plunge depth of 0.26 mm, at which condition the average joint strength is 13.0 ± 0.5kN, a 47 % increase compared to an optimized joint of single-sided probeless friction stir spot welding (8.9kN). The optical microscope examination shows that the wavy hook can be adjusted by the rotation speed and the higher rotation speeds will make the wave disappear and produce an approximately straight interface. The fractographic analysis shows that the wavy hook can inhibit crack propagation and has good mechanical interlocking effect, but the flat hook at high rotation speeds leads to crack propagation directly along the interface, and the failure mode is changed from plug-pull fracture to interfacial fracture. Therefore, the joint strength at 1000 rpm is only 7.0kN, which decreases by about 47 % compared with the optimal strength. The electron backscattering diffraction analysis shows that continuous dynamic recrystallization occurs in the hook region and good metallurgical bonding is formed, and there are also some discontinuous dynamic recrystallized grains distributed between the large grains due to the larger strain rates and lower temperature at the interface during the SDP-FSSW process. It has been found that the wavy hook with good metallurgical bonding and mechanical interlocking can be introduced in spot welded joints by controlling the interface forming, which is a viable method to create high quality, efficient and reliable spot joints.

Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation of Stainless-Steel Resistance Spot Welding Based on Spiral C-Scan Technique.

In order to achieve the non-destructive testing and quality evaluation of stainless-steel resistance spot welding (RSW) joints, a portable ultrasonic spiral C-scan testing instrument was developed based on the principle of ultrasonic pulse reflection. A mathematical model for the quality evaluation of RSW joints was established, and the centroid of the ultrasonic C-scan image in the nugget zone of the RSW was determined based on the principle of static moment. The longest and shortest axes passing through the centroid in the image were extracted, and the ratio of the longest axis to the shortest axis (RLS) factor and the average of axis (AOA) factor were calculated, respectively, to evaluate the quality of the joint. To study the effectiveness of the detection results, tensile tests, and stereo analysis were conducted on the solder joints after sampling. The results indicate that this detection method can realize online detection and significantly improve the detection efficiency; the detection value of internal defect size is close to the true value with an error of 0.1 mm; the combination of RLS and AOA factors can be used to evaluate the mechanical properties of RSW joints. This technology can be used to solve the NDT, evaluate problems of RSW joints, and realize engineering applications.

Stress Concentration Modelling on Resistance Spot Welding Lap Joint of Steel ASS316L and Titanium Ti-6Al-4V with Variable Weld Geometries

This research is a finite element simulation on resistance spot welding (RSW) process between dissimilar sheet metals consist of Titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V and Austenitic Stainless Steel (ASS) 316L. The problem statement was inability to visualize the stress concentration profile over weld nugget joint when Titanium alloy and steel welded with variable electrode geometry of circle, triangle, square and hexagon. To determine the best geometry for best weld with lowest maximum stress concentration. The methodology of simulation was tensile-shear test using SOLIDWORKS software. The tensile-stress load of 664.09 N was applied across all 4 different weld geometries. The result for the lowest magnitude of maximum stress 180.6 MPa was on circle weld geometry. Triangle geometry registered highest stress concentration of 219.6 MPa. This proves that most common weld geometry used in industry was circle. Even for dissimilar material joint the result supports that circle weld geometry as the best geometry. Keywords: Resistance spot welding (RSW), stress concentration, weld nugget, weld geometry.

Superhydrophobic-based corrosion mitigation systems and their effectiveness on dissimilar and similar friction stir spot-weld joint aerospace alloys

Traditional rivets have been a longstanding choice for securing aircraft components as permanent fasteners. A new technique called friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is gaining popularity as a rivet replacement. Despite its advantages, dissimilar FSSW joints are susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to property degradation. This study explored the potential of superhydrophobic (SH) coating as a corrosion inhibitor for FSSW joint aerospace alloys, particularly aluminum alloy (AA). The study involved a comparison of the corrosion resistance between SH-coated dissimilar (AA2024-T3 and AA7075-T6) and similar (AA2024-T3 and AA2024-T3) FSSW joint specimens. Notably, SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens demonstrated an exceptional average water contact angle (WCA) of 156°, confirming their SH nature. The study further incorporated the design of experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis to optimize constituent parameters and enhance the performance of SH coating. Durability testing indicated that SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens exhibited high resistance to acetone without influencing the WCA of 148°. Only a slight decrease in the WCA was observed when specimens were submerged in an acidic solution, where the WCA reduced to 142° from the original WCA of 158°. Also, specimens were stable and maintained the WCA of 154° when heat-treated at the temperature of 230 ℃. Moreover, a cross-cut adhesion test revealed that less than 5 % of the coating material was lost in SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens. Additionally, the electrochemical study evaluated the anti-corrosion performance of SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens, where the specimens were immersed for 6 days in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. After 6 days in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, specimens remained very close to SH, maintaining the WCA above 140°. Also, the electrochemical results demonstrated that the anti-corrosion performance of the SH-coated dissimilar FSSW joint specimens was enhanced with a lower corrosion rate of 37.56 mpy and current density of 0.428 µA/cm² as compared to the uncoated specimens. The variations in corrosion rates and current densities of the SH-coated dissimilar and similar FSSW joint specimens were very minimal, which proves that the application of SH coating on the FSSW joint specimens is suitable to alleviate corrosion-related problems in FSSW joints.

An investigation on bending fatigue in a corrosive environment of dual-phase 1000 sheet steel RSW joints and damage model via experiment and numeric analysis

Fatigue, corrosion, and fatigue damage models are best addressed to improve and understand the service performance of materials, particularly automotive steel. This study is an attempt to experimentally and finite element investigates plain bending fatigue performance and damage model of DP 1000 sheet steel resistance spot welding (RSW) joints in 3% NaCl aqueous corrosive treatment. RSW applications were carried out using different weld currents. The joint samples were then subjected to optical image analysis, tensile shear, and fatigue tests (3% NaCl-aqueous and normal atmosphere). A proper damage model of RSW junctions was developed and corrected by numeric analysis. Besides, RSW nugget formation, tensile shear, and plain bending fatigue tests were also applied. Consequence, fatigue behavior, tensile load carrying capacity, and effective fracture behavior of resistance spot welded joint specimens were evaluated. Results showed that a corrosive environment negatively affected fatigue performance. With the developed model, it was observed that the fatigue life of the samples decreased by 30–35% in the fatigue tests performed in the corrosive environment. Experimental and numerical analysis results of plain bending were compatible.

Understanding the mechanisms behind ultrasonic vibration in resistance spot welding of aluminum and steel

An ultrasonic-assisted resistance spot welding process, which can improve the quality of aluminum/steel spot-welded joints, has been developed. However, the mechanism of the thermal-electrical-mechanical behavior caused by the ultrasonic longitudinal vibration to welding process has not been clarified. In this study, the role and impact mechanisms of ultrasonic longitudinal vibration during the welding process to form joints were confirmed by combining the microstructural characterization of the formed joints with the signal analysis of the process, as well as the analysis of the independent finite element numerical calculation results. Additionally, the interface metallurgical reaction behavior, welding defects, fracture behavior, and joint strength characteristics of ultrasonic-assisted aluminum/steel resistance spot welding joints were comprehensively analyzed, and the results indicated that the sizes of the aluminum/steel nuggets decreased. It could be attributed to the competition among multiple ultrasonic effects. Specifically, ultrasonic vibration decreased the contact resistance between the aluminum/steel sheets, whereas the acoustic cavitation and acoustic streaming effects increased the electrical conductivity of molten steel and thermal conductivity of molten aluminum, respectively. Moreover, ultrasonic vibration promoted the radial creep of molten and near-molten aluminum, which expanded in the effective bonding area between the two workpieces. Furthermore, ultrasonic vibration effectively reduced the thickness of the intermetallic compound layer (<3.0 µm), concurrently inhibited the formation of interfacial welding defects. Finally, the peak tensile-shear load of aluminum/steel joints is significantly increased under multiple ultrasonic optimization mechanisms.

Artificial Neural Networks and Experimental Analysis of the Resistance Spot Welding Parameters Effect on the Welded Joint Quality of AISI 304.

The automobile industry relies primarily on spot welding operations, particularly resistance spot welding (RSW). The performance and durability of the resistance spot-welded joints are significantly impacted by the welding quality outputs, such as the shear force, nugget diameter, failure mode, and the hardness of the welded joints. In light of this, the present study sought to determine how the aforementioned welding quality outputs of 0.5 and 1 mm thick austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 were affected by RSW parameters, such as welding current, welding time, pressure, holding time, squeezing time, and pulse welding. In order to guarantee precise evaluation and experimental analysis, it is essential that they are supported by a numerical model using an intelligent model. The primary objective of this research is to develop and enhance an intelligent model employing artificial neural network (ANN) models. This model aims to provide deeper knowledge of how the RSW parameters affect the quality of optimum joint behavior. The proposed neural network (NN) models were executed using different ANN structures with various training and transfer functions based on the feedforward backpropagation approach to find the optimal model. The performance of the ANN models was evaluated in accordance with validation metrics, like the mean squared error (MSE) and correlation coefficient (R2). Assessing the experimental findings revealed the maximum shear force and nugget diameter emerged to be 8.6 kN and 5.4 mm for the case of 1-1 mm, 3.298 kN and 4.1 mm for the case of 0.5-0.5 mm, and 4.031 kN and 4.9 mm for the case of 0.5-1 mm. Based on the results of the Pareto charts generated by the Minitab program, the most important parameter for the 1-1 mm case was the welding current; for the 0.5-0.5 mm case, it was pulse welding; and for the 0.5-1 mm case, it was holding time. When looking at the hardness results, it is clear that the nugget zone is much higher than the heat-affected zone (HZ) and base metal (BM) in all three cases. The ANN models showed that the one-output shear force model gave the best prediction, relating to the highest R and the lowest MSE compared to the one-output nugget diameter model and two-output structure. However, the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation (Trainlm) training function with the log sigmoid transfer function recorded the best prediction results of both ANN structures.

Enhancing Welding Efficiency and Reliability in Unstructured Environments: A Computational Analysis of Spot-Welded Steel Sheet Connections

High-strength steels play a crucial role in various industries such as shipbuilding, construction, and aerospace due to their unique properties. Welding of these steels in unstructured workspaces presents challenges in terms of variability in workpiece position, shape, and environmental conditions. The research utilizes a portable robotic welding system with a novel seam-tracking method to address the challenges of welding in unstructured workspaces. Additionally, the study involves the analysis of different steel grades, including tool steels, stainless steel 440A, to understand their mechanical properties and applications. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the portable robotic welding system in accurately tracking welding seams in various positions. The study also provides insights into the mechanical properties and applications of different high-strength steel grades, emphasizing the importance of understanding spot weld behavior for improved structural performance. The findings underscore the significance of welding parameters, base-metal properties, and welding characteristics in determining the quality and durability of spot-welded joints.

Effect of stirring time on the quality of aluminum-steel lap joints of friction stir spot welding

AA6061 aluminum alloy sheet and TRIP steel plate were welded by friction stir spot welding using a tungsten-based hard alloy stirring head, and the effect of stirring time on the formation and connection strength of spot welded lap joints was studied. The results showed that as the stirring time increased from 0 s to 7 s, all spot welded joints formed well, and the size of the hooks appearing in the stirring needle’s action area gradually increased. The connection strength of the joint gradually increases with the increase of stirring time. When the stirring time is 5 seconds, it reaches a maximum value. At this time, when the stirring time is increased, the joint strength decreases significantly. The strength of the joint is influenced by the size of the bending hook and the formation of intermetallic compounds.

Prediction of peel strength of sandwich sheets made of aluminium alloys fabricated by friction stir spot welding based hybrid process using cohesive zone modeling and finite element simulations

The present work examines the fabrication and numerical modelling of honeycomb core sandwich sheets utilizing Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW) techniques as prospective substitutes for adhesive-bonded structures. Here, the sandwich sheet contains AA5052-H32 skins and AA3003 honeycomb core. Two strategies, FSSW with disc insert (FSSW_D) and FSSW with disc insert and adhesive bonding (FSSW_D_AB), were evaluated against traditional adhesive-bonded sandwiches using peel test performance and finite element (FE) simulation with cohesive zone modelling (CZM). In the CZM, a homogenized core with an equivalent cohesive layer was substituted for the honeycomb core and cohesive layer. The utilization of FSSW_D and FSSW_D_AB methods resulted in substantial improvements in maximum load capacity, with enhancements in the hybrid sandwich specimen ranging from 254 % to 399 % compared to adhesive-bonded connections. The maximum load of hybrid joints (FSSW_D_AB) was 15 %–23 % higher than that of ordinary spot-welded joints (FSSW_D). An approach to model the hybrid sandwich specimen using both the homogenized core and equivalent cohesive zone model accurately was proposed. FE analysis, including peel tests of adhesive-bonded, spot-welded, and hybrid joints, was performed, and the numerical predictions agreed satisfactorily with the experimental values for all the joint types.

A Review on the Recent Trends in Forming Composite Joints Using Spot Welding Variants

Traditional resistance spot welding (RSW) has been unsuccessful in forming quality composite joints between steel– or aluminum–polymer-based composites. This has led to the development of spot welding variants such as friction stir spot welding (FFSW), ultrasonic spot welding (USW), and laser spot welding (LSW). The paper reviewed the differences in the bonding mechanisms, spot weld characteristics, and challenges involved in using these spot welding variants. Variants of RSW use series electrode arrangement, co-axial electrodes, metallic inserts, interlayers, or external energy to produce composite joints. FFSW and USW use nanoparticles, interlayers, or energy directors to create composite spot welds. Mechanical interlocking is the common composite joint mechanism for all variants. Each spot welding variant has different sets of weld parameters and distinct spot weld morphologies. FFSW is the most expensive variant but is commonly used for composite spot weld joints. USW has a shorter welding cycle compared to RSW and FFSW but can only be used for small components. LSW is faster than the other variants, but limited work was found on its use in composite spot weld joining. The use of interlayers in FFSW and USW to form composite joints is a potential research area recommended in this review.

Relationship between weld rip diameter and fatigue fracture mode for friction stir spot welded tension‐peel joints

AbstractIn this study, the effects of variations in the weld rip diameter on fatigue properties were investigated based on the fatigue fracture mechanism using tensile peeling‐type friction stir spot welding (FSSW) joints. The results of the fatigue test showed that the high and low applied force ranges exhibited base metal fracture and weld area fracture, respectively, and the difference in the weld rip diameter hardly affected the fatigue life. In contrast, in the middle‐applied force range, the fracture morphology changes as the weld rip diameter decreases, and it is apparent that joints exhibiting weld area fracture decrease the fatigue life. The fatigue fracture morphology of the tensile peeling‐type FSSW joints can be described by a competing risk model between the weld rip diameter. Increasing the heat input during joining, thereby increasing the crack propagation resistance at the pressure fusion interface, can suppress weld area fracture.

Study on precise weld diameter validations by comparing destructive testing methods in resistance spot welding

The torsion test is rarely used for resistance spot-welded joints since they are not subjected to torsion in applications. Normal, shear, and/or peel loads are usually the main stresses. Extensive scientific investigations in the context of Kunsmann’s dissertation date back more than 50 years. These investigations are still the basis of ISO 17653 and the German guideline DVS 2916-1. Recent scientific investigations only use torsion tests, but do not describe the reason for its use. A decisive advantage of the torsion test over the other standardized destructive testing methods lies in the types of fracture modes that occur and the properties of the fracture surfaces. Torsional loading results in either interfacial or button-pulled fracture modes. No material residues occur on the fracture surfaces for ductile and advanced high-strength steels. Hence, the measurement of weld diameter is achievable with minimal constraints, resulting in reduced variability and facilitating objective assessments of spot welds. This article delineates these attributes through a comparative analysis of various destructive testing methods employing statistical approaches. Additionally, the article expounds on the design concept of the developed rig for conducting torsion tests on spot welds.

Machine learning tool for the prediction of electrode wear effect on the quality of resistance spot welds

The quality of resistance spot welding (RSW) joints is strongly affected by the condition of the electrodes. This work develops a machine learning-based tool to automatically assess the influence of electrode wear on the quality of RSW welds. Two different experimental campaigns were performed to evaluate the effect of electrode wear on the mechanical strength of spot welds. The resulting failure load of the joints has been used to define the weld quality classes of the machine learning tool, while data from electrode displacement and electrode force sensors, embedded in the welding machine, have been processed to identify the predictors of the tool. Some machine learning algorithms have been tested. The most performing algorithm, i.e., the neural network, achieved an accuracy of 90%. This work provides important theoretical and practical contributions. First, the decreasing thermal expansion of the weld nugget as the electrode degradation advances results in a strong correlation between the difference of the maximum displacement value and the last value recorded during the welding and the relative failure load. Then, this work offers a practical decision support tool for manufacturers. In fact, the automatic detection of low-quality welds allows to reduce or eliminate unnecessary redundant welds, which are performed to compensate for the uncertainty of electrode wear. This leads to savings in time, energy, and resources for manufacturers. Finally, general recommendations for the timing of redressing or replacing the electrode are provided in the manuscript based on the company willingness to accept some non-compliant welds or not.

Research on the Surface-State Parameterization of a Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding Joint Made of Aluminum Alloy and Its Connection to the Fracture Mode.

Surface features are crucial for assessing welding quality because they serve as an intuitive depiction of the quality of the joint and have a major influence on welding strength. According to the characteristics of the refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) process and an analysis of the surface-state and internal morphology of RFSSW joints, a method of predicting the mechanical properties of RFSSW joints based on surface-state characteristics was proposed. In this paper, a laser-ranging sensor was used to characterize the surface state of RFSSW joints, and parametric characterization methods of the surface-state features of RFSSW joints were proposed. On this basis, a support vector machine was used to predict and analyze the fracture mode of RFSSW joints. The accuracy of the analysis of the test samples reached 95.8%. This paper provides a more efficient and convenient new method for the quality evaluation of RFSSW joints.

Deformation behavior of dissimilar ultrasonic spot-welded joints of a clad 7075 aluminum alloy to galvanized high-strength low-alloy steel

The microstructural and mechanical properties of ultrasonic spot-welded (USWed) joints of AA7072-clad AA7075-T6 alloy to galvanized HSLA steel are investigated. The tensile lap shear strength increased with increasing welding energy and reached ∼145 MPa at a welding energy of 2500 J. The dissimilar joints also exhibited a longer fatigue life than other USWed Al-steel joints reported in the literature. In the present dissimilar ultrasonic spot welding, direct Al–Fe interactions to form intermetallic compounds were prevented and accelerated inter-diffusion between Al and Zn occurred along with localized melting at higher welding energy levels. The subsequent fast cooling led to the formation of an Al–Zn eutectic layer (∼40 μm thick) with fine structures at the interface of the dissimilar joints, which displayed a robust sticking capacity as demonstrated by the extensive shear dimples on both tensile and fatigue fracture surfaces. While interfacial failure occurred in the majority of tensile lap shear and fatigue tests, both modes of interfacial failure and TTT (transverse through-thickness) failure were present at lower cyclic stress levels during fatigue, with the interfacial failure being slightly more dominant in the two competitive failure modes.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Refill Friction Stir Spot-Welded Joints of 2A12Al and 7B04Al: Effects of Tool Size and Welding Parameters.

To solve problems in dissimilarly light metal joints, refilled friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) is proposed instead of resistance spot welding. However, rotation speed, dwell time, plunge depth, and the diameter of welding tools all have a great influence on joints, which brings great challenges in optimizing welding parameters to ensure their mechanical properties. In this study, the 1.5 mm thick 2A12Al and 2 mm thick 7B04Al lap joints were prepared by Taguchi orthogonal experiment design and RFSSW. The welding tool (shoulder) diameters were 5 mm and 7 mm, respectively. The macro/microstructures of the cross-section, the geometrical characteristics of the effective welding depth (EWD), the stir zone area (SZA), and the stir zone volume (SZV) were characterized. The shear strength and failure mode of the lap joint were analyzed using an optical microscope. It was found that EWD, SZA, and SZV had a good correlation with tensile-shear force. The optimal welding parameters of 5 mm diameter joints are 1500 rpm of rotation speed, 2.5 mm of plunge depth, and 0 s of dwell time, which for 7 mm joints are 1200 rpm, 1.5 mm, and 2 s. The tensile-shear force of 5 mm and 7 mm joints welded with these optical parameters was 4965 N and 5920 N, respectively. At the same time, the 5 mm diameter joints had better strength and strength stability.

Dissimilar joining of duplex AISI 2304 stainless steel/austenitic AISI 321 stainless steel using resistance spot welding technique: Microstructural evolutions, tensile-shear properties, and fracture analysis

In this work, microstructural characteristics and mechanical performance of spot weld joints of AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel (ASS)/AISI 2304 duplex stainless steel (DSS) were experimentally assessed. The welding current and time were varied to determine their effects on the failure load/energy and mechanism of dissimilar welds. The weld metal (WM)’s microstructure had a ferritic matrix as well as a distribution of grain boundary, Widmanstätten, and transgranular austenite. Some precipitates were found in the weld. The heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the AISI 321 ASS did not experience extensive phase evolutions and only grain coarsening occurred. This led to the HAZ softening. While extensive phase transformations were identified in the HAZ of the AISI 2304 DSS. Its microstructure contained a ferrite matrix with Widmanstätten and grain boundary-type austenite. Such microstructure resulted in the HAZ strengthening. Alteration of the welding condition from 1 kA – 2 s to 3 kA – 2 s raised peak load (tensile-shear strength) from 9.7± 0.8 to 16± 1 kN and energy absorbed to fracture from 15.52 ±1 to 51.2± 2 J. Enhanced WM size was responsible for them. Finally, as welding condition reached 4 kA – 2 s, they would decrease to 14.4±1 kN and 41.76± 3 J, respectively. It arises from surface splash. Once the welding condition varied from 3 kA – 1 s to 3 kA – 3 s, the weld performance was promoted i.e., improvement of peak load from 13± 1 to 19.6± 0.5 kN and energy absorbed to fracture from 23.4±2 to 49±3 J. It results from the WM enlarged. Ultimately, welding condition of 3 kA – 4 s causes a degradation in the weld performance i.e., drop of peak load to 15.8±1 kN and energy absorbed to fracture to 33.18± 2 J. This was on account of surface splash. With reference to the fracture analysis, interfacial, single pull-out, and double pull-out fracture modes were characterized.

Modelling the static and fatigue behavior of hybrid spot welded-adhesively bonded single lap joints

Hybrid joints formed by combining two or more joining methods, including spot welding and adhesive bonding, are relatively new joints designed especially for use in the automotive industry. The aim of this work is to study numerically the static and fatigue behavior of ultrasonically spot-welded, adhesively bonded and hybrid spot welded – adhesive bonded joints. The Virtual Crack Closure Technique was used to model the experimental static and fatigue tests for single lap joints reported in the literature. By introducing a short fictitious initial crack, in static loading the simulations matched the experimental results, characterized by a higher stiffness and static strength of the bonded and hybrid joints compared to the just spot-welded ones, and by an approximately similar static strength of the bonded and the hybrid joints. By the same method, a good match between the numerical and the experimental fatigue strengths was found, with the hybrid joints providing higher strength compared to the just spot-welded joints at 0.1 load ratio. According to the numerical analyses, S–N curves of bonded joints are expected to be statistically similar to those of the hybrid joints. This indicates that the adhesive plays the major role in the fatigue behaviour of the hybrid joint. Finally, the fatigue strength of hybrid joints was simulated at 0.3 load ratio. It was found a reasonable agreement between the experimental and numerical observations at 0.3 load ratio. The VCCT proved to be capable of simulating the static and the fatigue behaviour of the hybrid joints, thus proving to be a tool useful for the interpretation of the results and for the design of other hybrid joint configurations.