Liquid Metal Embrittlement in Resistance Spot Welding (Fourth Report)

Abstract

This paper describes the development of the finite element (FE) analysis system for comprehensive evaluation of the phenomena occurring during resistance spot welding. The framework underlying this system is FE calculation based on an incrementally coupled electrical-thermal-mechanical simulation procedure. In recent years, evaluation of stress in the spot welding process has been important for elucidating the mechanism of liquid metal embrittlement (LME) crack formation. This analytic system is applied to evaluating the influence of clearance between steel sheets and electrodes on residual stress in the spot welded zone.