Suppressing Cracking in Resistance Welding AA5754 by Mechanical Means

Abstract

In this paper mechanical aspects of cracking during single- and multi-spot welding of AA5754 was investigated by both experimental and analytical approaches. The impact of mechanical loading on crack initiation and propagation was studied with the consideration of various process parameters including the loading imposed by electrodes, the formation of liquid nugget, and constraining factors during and after welding. Tensile properties of AA5754 and their dependence on the temperature were tested at room and up to solidus temperatures, in order to provide a reference of cracking stress. Thermal-mechanical analysis was conducted based on the temperature field around the nugget and the state of stress encountered during welding. This analysis revealed that tensile stress might build up in the vicinity of the nugget during cooling, as explained in the experimental observation. General guidelines for suppressing cracking were proposed, i.e., to provide sufficient constraint around the weld spot during and after welding.