Braze‐welding of electrical conductors to concentric plugs

In resistance spot welding of thin sheet–thick sheet–thick sheet joint, when the sheet thickness ratio is large (sheet thickness ratio = total thickness of sheet joint/thickness of the thin sheet positioned on the outside of the joint), how to stably secure the nugget between the thin sheet and the adjoining thick sheet is a key issue. If the sheet thickness ratio is so large, nugget formation between the thin sheet and thick sheet is extremely difficult. In order to control of the nugget (position of formation, shape, etc. of the nugget) during welding for three sheets joint with a high sheet thickness ratio, optimum welding process was investigated. The developed ‘two-step force, two-step current’ welding process was suitable for high sheet thickness ratio joint and relaxed the constraints on the sheet thickness ratio. In Step 1 (first part of welding period) of the welding process, a nugget is reliably formed between the thin sheet and thick sheet by applying conditions of low electrode force, short welding time, and high current. In the subsequent Step 2 (second part of welding period), a nugget is formed between the two thick sheets by applying high welding force and a long welding time. In the weld results of a three sheet joint (0.7+2.3+2.3 mm; sheet thickness ratio: 7.6) using mild steel GA (0.7 mm) as the thin sheet and 780 MPa high strength GA (2.3 mm) in the two thick sheets, ‘two-step force, two-step current’ spot welding process showed the wide available welding current range.     

Resistance spot welding of steel and aluminium sheet using insert metal sheet

Abstract

The present paper reports the resistance spot welding of steel and aluminium sheets using aluminium clad steel sheets as insert metals. Intermetallic compound layers were formed in the weld zones in direct spot welding of steel sheets to aluminium sheets. Thus, the strength of these joints was lower than that of aluminium to aluminium joints. Intermetallic compound layers were also formed at the steel/aluminium interfaces of the insert metal in welding of steel to aluminium using an insert metal sheet. However, the strength of these joints was of the same order as that of the aluminium joints. The fracture mode of these joints varied with the welding current. The suitable welding current for steel to aluminium joints varied between the values suitable for steel to steel and aluminium to aluminium joints. The fatigue strength of joints using insert metals was somewhat lower than that of the aluminium joints.     

Critical sheet thickness for weld nugget growth during resistance spot welding of three‐steel sheets

Abstract

One of the most important issues in resistance spot welding of three‐sheet stack joints is the insufficient growth of the weld nugget, which may cause problems in places needing larger weld nuggets (i.e. sheet/sheet interface). In this paper, the effect of sheet thickness on the pattern of weld nugget development during resistance spot welding of three‐steel sheets of equal thickness is studied. Results showed that there is a critical sheet thickness of 1·5?mm at which the fusion zone size at the sheet/sheet interface is nearly equal to the fusion zone size at the geometrical centre of the joint. Increasing the sheet thickness beyond the critical size causes a shift in the location of weld nugget formation from the geometrical centre to the sheet/sheet interfaces. Below the critical sheet thickness, the weld nugget growth in the geometrical centre of the joint is higher than that in the sheet/sheet interface.     

Fatigue behaviour of Al/steel dissimilar resistance spot welds fabricated using Al–Mg interlayer

Aluminium alloy sheets were joined to stainless steel ones by a resistance spot welding method using Al–Mg alloy interlayer. The interlayer exhibits a lower melting point than the Al alloy. Consequently, melted interlayer with a lower temperature filled the gap between the two sheets and resulted in effective joining. Subsequently, tensile shear fatigue tests had been conducted to evaluate fatigue strength and to determine the fatigue fracture mechanism. Resistance spot welding dissimilar welds exhibited higher fatigue strengths than friction stir spot welded dissimilar ones. Fatigue fracture modes were dependent on the load levels, where plug type fracture occurred at high load levels, shear fracture through the nugget at medium load levels and through thickness fatigue crack propagation in the Al sheet at low load levels. The fracture mode transition was attributed to the geometrical rotation around the nugget.     

热处理工艺对TRIP980钢板点焊性能的影响

采用不同焊接工艺对TRIP980钢板进行点焊试验,研究了焊接电流、焊前预热及焊后热处理工艺对点焊性能的影响. 结果表明,随着焊接电流的增大,焊点的熔核直径和拉剪力均增大,但当电流过大而发生飞溅时,焊点的熔核直径和拉剪力开始减小. 焊前预热工艺可提高点焊飞溅电流,进而可以获得更大的熔核直径及拉剪力. 在对焊点进行焊后热处理的情况下,当焊接电流与焊后热处理电流之间的冷却时间超过900 ms时,可显著改善熔核组织,降低熔核硬度,提高焊点拉剪力.     

Investigation on friction stir lap welding of aluminium to aluminium clad steel sheets

Abstract

In this work, the feasibility of friction stir lap welding an aluminium alloy (Al-5083) to the aluminium clad steel sheet was studied. The welded joints were characterised by various methods including shear–tensile test and optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that sound and defect free joints were obtained. The fracture loads of the samples reached up to 94% compared with that of the steel base metal. Moreover, the joint strength linearly increased with the decrease in thickness of the aluminium layer roll bonded on the steel sheet. It was also shown that welding rotation and travel speed variation did not considerably impact the fracture loads in the studied range.     

Prediction of the failure mode of automotive steels resistance spot welds

ABSTRACT

In this study, the critical nugget size, at which the failure state in tensile shear test changed from the interfacial failure mode to the pull-out failure one, was estimated as a function of nugget and base metal hardness. The proposed approach could address the effect of various parameters involved in resistance spot welding process, such as sheet thickness, base metal chemical composition and physical properties of electrodes and sheets. The reliability of the present model was evaluated using independent experimental results. Based on the obtained results, the effect of steel composition on critical nugget diameter was found to be more important, especially for the sheets thicker than about 1?mm, whereas predicted nugget sizes by previous models could not guarantee the pull-out failure mode.     

Novel dissimilar spot welding of aluminium alloy and steel sheets by friction stirring

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) has been applied to a dissimilar metal lap joint of an aluminium alloy and steel by stirring only the upper aluminium alloy sheet. Therefore, FSSW cannot be used to weld a lap joint composed of three or more sheets and a lap joint with an adhesive interlayer. In the present work, we propose a novel spot welding process for dissimilar metal lap joints using a new tool with the tip made of spherical ceramics. When this process is applied to the lap joint of the aluminium alloy and steel, the tool can be plunged into the lower steel sheet, then a steel projection is formed in the aluminium alloy sheet. The height of this steel projection increases with the plunge depth, and accordingly, the weld strength increases; the tensile shear strength and the cross tensile strength reached about 3.6 and 2.3 kN/point, respectively.     

Effects of resistance spot welding parameters on microstructures and mechanical properties of dissimilar material joints of galvanised high strength steel and aluminium alloy

Abstract

Intermediate frequency resistance spot welding has been adopted to join dissimilar materials of H220YD galvanised high strength steel and 6008 aluminium alloy. The effects of welding current and welding time on microstructures and mechanical properties of the welded joints were investigated. A thin intermetallic compound layer composed of Fe₂Al₅ phase and Fe₄Al₁₃ phase formed at the steel/aluminium interface. The interfacial intermetallic compound layer has higher nanohardness compared with the aluminium alloy nugget and galvanised steel. With increasing welding current (4–11?kA) and welding time (50–300?ms), the nugget diameter increased, the interfacial layer structure became coarser and the tensile shear load of the welded joints had an increased tendency. The maximum tensile shear load reached 3309?N at 9?kA for 250?ms. Crack initiated at the interfacial intermetallic compound layer of the tensile shear specimens, then propagated through the interfacial layer principally, and meantime through the aluminium alloy fusion zone near the interface partially.     

Microstructure,static and fatigue properties of refill friction stir spot welded 7075-T6 aluminium alloy using a modified tool

ABSTRACT

Defect-free joints were produced in 2.0?mm thick 7075-T6 Al alloy by refill friction stir spot welding using a modified tool. Weld performance was evaluated in terms of microstructure, interfacial bonding, hardness, static and fatigue strength based on the experimental observations. The results indicated that grain size, interfacial bonding quality and lap shear strength significantly depend on sleeve penetration depth (SPD), with sufficient interfacial bonding and stable lap shear strength achieved when SPD?≥?1.8?mm. The SPD and applied load played a dominant role in determining the static lap shear and fatigue failure mechanisms, respectively. More precisely, the lap shear failure mode was an interfacial failure when SPD?≤?1.8?mm, and nugget pullout when SPD?≥?2.0?mm. The fatigue fracture mode involved nugget pullout under high applied load, while fracture through the parent sheet occurs under medium and lower applied loads.     

The comparison between laser screw welding and resistant spot welding of lap joint with large thickness ratio

The present paper investigates the welding forming, microstructure and shear tensile test of lap joints with large thickness ratio which were fabricated by laser screw welding(LSW) and resistant spot welding(RSW). The comparison was conducted on two kinds of lap joints, galvanized sheet and hot pressed steel(GS-HPS), galvanized sheet and high strength steel(GS-HS). The microstructure and fracture morphology were analyzed by optical microscope. It was demonstrated that with large thickness ratio the sound lap joint of GS-HS could be obtained by LSW regardless of the irradiation of laser beam from thick metal to sheet or otherwise, and the morphology shows it is better when the laser is irradiated on the thick metal. Nevertheless, when the laser beam was applied on thick metal of HPS, blind hole or blowhole was formed in the center of joint, which is attributed to the shrinkage during solidification of the molten pool. Small pores or dispersed porosity appeared on the faying face of the joint without predetermined gap which provides the degassing. However, the increase of predetermined gap could reduce the shear strength and nugget size. Two kinds of joints made by LSW have superior shear strength than those made by RSW when the laser were applied on galvanized sheet.     

Comparative study of fatigue behaviour in dissimilar Al alloy/steel and Mg alloy/steel friction stir spot welds fabricated by scroll grooved tool without probe

Abstract

Aluminium alloy A6061-T6 or magnesium alloy AZ31 sheet was welded to steel sheet by a friction stir spot welding technique using a scroll grooved tool without a probe. The material flow in the nugget of the Mg/steel weld was less than that in the Al/steel one. The Al/steel weld exhibited higher static tensile–shear strength than the Al/Al weld, while the strengths of Mg/steel and Mg/Mg welds were comparable. Tensile–shear fatigue tests were performed using lap shear specimens of both dissimilar and similar welds. The dissimilar welds exhibited nearly the same fatigue strengths as the similar ones. The effective nugget size in the dissimilar welds was defined as the area where Al or Mg alloy remained on the steel side after static fracture. When the fatigue strengths of dissimilar welds were evaluated based on the effective nugget size, the normalised fatigue strengths of Al/steel and Mg/steel welds were comparable.     

汽车用DP800双相钢点焊工艺窗口和接头性能

开展2.0 mm厚DP800双相钢的电阻点焊试验,测试DP800双相钢点焊工艺窗口,研究焊接电流、焊接时间、电极压力对焊点拉剪力的影响规律,并观察接头不同区域的微观组织。结果表明,DP800高强钢焊接性较好,点焊工艺窗口满足工业应用要求;随着焊接电流和焊接时间的增加,焊点直径和拉剪力先增加后趋于平稳;随着电极压力的增加,点焊直径和拉剪力先增加后减小;焊点热影响晶粒细小,由马氏体组织构成;焊核为典型的柱状晶,显微组织为马氏体和少量的贝氏体。     

Mechanical properties and microstructures of magnesium alloy AZ31B joint fabricated by resistance spot welding with cover plates

Abstract

The authors welded magnesium alloy AZ31B sheets using the technique of resistance spot welding with cover plates, and investigated the effects of welding parameters on the tensile shear strength of joints and shape characteristic of nugget. The joints with high tensile shear strength were obtained under relatively low welding current. The equiaxed grains with the many intragranularly precipitated particles Mg₁₇Al₁₂ in the nugget were observed.     

Effects of surface conditions on resistance spot welding of Mg alloy AZ31

Abstract

In this work, resistance spot welding of Mg alloy AZ31 sheets was investigated in as received and acid cleaned surface conditions. As received sheets had higher contact resistance which required lower current thresholds for weld initiation and for four root t nugget size (where t is sheet thickness). However, it also led to both serious expulsion and internal defects. The fracture mode of welds in as received sheets was interfacial failure while that of the acid cleaned specimens shifted from interfacial to nugget pullout and exhibited better strength. The acid cleaned sheets also produced less damage on electrode tip faces.     

Influence of spot welding on fracture behaviour of Al–6.6Mg alloy

Abstract

The influence of spot welding on the microstructure and fracture behaviour of an Al–6.6Mg alloy has been investigated. Results showed that dendrites were formed with porosity and cracks in the nugget. Grain boundary melting occurred in the heat affected zone and wide grain boundaries appeared. Spot welding increased the tendency towards intergranular fracture. Tensile shear fracture was mixed with dimples and intergranular fracture. Fatigue fracture was transgranular with striations at the surface. However, the alloy sheet without welding showed dimpled tensile fracture and fatigue fracture mixed with intergranular and transgranular fracture.     

Investigation of induced magnetic force on liquid nugget during resistance spot welding

Abstract

This paper investigates the source, magnitude and direction of magnetic force on the liquid nugget during resistance spot welding (RSW). High speed photography was used to observe the nugget formation process during half-sectioned RSW of steel (ferromagnetic substance) and aluminium alloy (paramagnetic substance). The induced magnetic force acting on half-sectioned and regular nugget was afterwards analysed and calculated. The results show that in the case of steel RSW, the magnetised workpieces generated a very strong magnetic field around the spot welding zone, while weak magnetic field appeared in the case of aluminium alloy RSW. This strong magnetic field causes a strong convection in the liquid nugget of steel even when the welding current is low. This strong convection will promote that the dimensions of nugget in the steel RSW become larger and closer to rectangle (observed on the cross-section) than in the aluminium alloy RSW.     

Static and fatigue performance of weld bonded dual phase steel sheets

Abstract

Lap joints of dual phase steel sheets of 1·0 mm were prepared by adhesive bonding, spot welding and weld bonding processes using a one component epoxy base structural adhesive. Mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated by tensile shear and fatigue tests. The size of the weld nugget for both spot weld and weld bond was measured for different welding parameters (current, time) and compared. For identical welding parameters, weld bonded nuggets exhibit higher nugget diameter. Tensile shear strength of weld bonded joints is 40 and 58% higher than spot welded joints and 15 and 39% higher than adhesive bonded joints and for DP590 and DP780 steels respectively. Considering 10⁶ cycles, the endurance limit of weld bonded joint is much higher than spot welded joint but smaller than adhesive bonded joints. Overall the performance of weld bonded joints is superior to those of resistance spot welding.     

Evolution of bond formation and fracture process of ultrasonic spot welded dissimilar materials

Ultrasonic spot welding was applied for dissimilar lap welding of aluminium alloy and steel sheets. With a combination of heat and force input during the welding process, the welded interface at aluminium/steel interface was formed. A graphical model was established to represent the weld formation process. The thickness of top aluminium sheet was reduced with an increase in welding time, which led to the failure mode switching from debonding failure to pullout failure. The intermetallic at the welded interface was verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy on the surface of the fractured specimen. In addition, the vibration direction of the sonotrode during ultrasonic spot welding influenced joint strength by changing the alignment of micro bonds at the welded interface.     

Statistical models for spot welding of commercial aluminium sheets

The present paper reports experimental investigations on the spot welding of commercial aluminium sheets. Experiments were carried out to study the influence of spot welding parameters (welding current, welding time, electrode force and sheet thickness) on the strength of spot welded aluminum sheets with commercial purity. Experiments were planned on the basis of response surface methodology (RSM) technique. The mathematical models (failure load and nugget area) correlating process parameters and their interactions with response parameters have been established. These models have been used in selecting the optimum process parameters for obtaining the desired spot welding quality at the least possible consumed power.