Numerical study of electrode geometry effects on resistance spot welding

Abstract

This work numerically investigates the geometrical effects of the electrode containing a coolant hole on transport variables during resistance spot welding. The model accounts for transient magneto-fluid mechanics, heat and species transport, bulk resistance in workpiece, and film and constriction resistances at contact interfaces. The computed results show that electrode cooling due to the coolant hole influences transport processes during not only freezing and cooling periods but also heating and melting periods. Electrode cooling can be interpreted by thermal resistance, depending on the shapes of the electrode and coolant hole within the growing thermal diffusion layer. Major factors affecting electrode cooling are different in distinct time stages. In most cases, enhanced electrode cooling due to the coolant hole decreases the electrode temperature and nugget growth rate. A decrease in the electrode face radius strongly increases nugget growth rate and workpiece temperature and decreases electrode temperature, whereas its effect on cooling rate is insignificant. The optimum design and sensitivity analysis of the electrode shapes subject to required cooling rate, nugget growth rate and welding time are revealed.