Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik IPK

Filters

1
9
Reset filters

Settings
Now showing 1 - 10 of 12
  • Publication
    Prevention of liquid metal embrittlement cracks in resistance spot welds by adaption of electrode geometry
    ( 2020)
    Böhne, Christoph
    ;
    Meschut, Gerson
    ;
    Biegler, Max
    ;
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    Advanced high strength steels are usually coated by a zinc layer for an increased resistance against corrosion. During the resistance spot welding of zinc coated steel grades, liquid metal embrittlement (LME) may occur. As a result, cracking inside and around the spot weld indentation is observable. The extent of LME cracks is influenced by a variety of different factors. In this study, the impact of the used electrode geometry is investigated over a stepwise varied weld time. A spot welding finite element simulation is used to analyse and explain the observed effects. Results show significant differences especially for highly increased weld times. Based on identical overall dimensions, electrode geometries with a larger working plane allow for longer weld times, while still preventing LME within the investigated material and maintaining accessibility.
  • Publication
    Liquid Metal Embrittlement of Advanced High Strength Steels during Resistance Spot Welding
    (Fraunhofer Verlag, 2019)
    Frei, Julian
    Neue Stahlwerkstoffe mit verbesserten Materialeigenschaften stellen die etablierten Schweißverfahren vor neue Herausforderungen. Während des Widerstandspunktschweißens hochfester Stähle wird teilweise flüssigmetallinduzierte Rissbildung (liquid metal embrittlement) beobachtet. Eine qualitativ hochwertige, rissfreie Punktschweißverbindung liegt im Interesse der gesamten metallverarbeitenden Industrie. Vor allem jedoch in Bereichen hochbeanspruchter bzw. sicherheitsrelevanter Bauteile und Konstruktionen wie zum Beispiel Automobilkarosserien wird hierauf besonderen Wert gelegt. Das Phänomen liquid metal embrittlement (LME) bietet ein weites Spektrum an Fragestellungen aus der Ingenieurs- bzw. der Forscherperspektive. Es handelt sich dabei um ein komplexes Zusammenwirken verschiedener Prozesse, deren Kombination letztendlich zur Rissentstehung führt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, anwendungsrelevante Einflussfaktoren zu untersuchen, um einerseits das Prozessverständnis zu verbessern, und andererseits potentielle Abhilfemaßnahmen aufzuzeigen.
  • Publication
    Investigation of liquid metal embrittlement of dual phase steel joints by electro-thermomechanical spot-welding simulation
    ( 2019)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Biegler, Max
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    ;
    Böhne, Christoph
    ;
    Meschut, Gerson
    A 3D electro-thermomechanical model is established in order to investigate liquid metal embrittlement. After calibration to a dual phase steel of the 1000 MPa tensile strength class, it is used to analyse the thermo-mechanical system of an experimental procedure to enforce liquid metal embrittlement during resistance spot welding. In this procedure, a tensile stress level is applied to zinc coated advanced high strength steel samples during welding. Thereby, liquid metal embrittlement formation is enforced, depending on the applied stress level and the selected material. The model is suitable to determine and visualise the corresponding underlying stresses and strains responsible for the occurrence of liquid metal embrittlement. Simulated local stresses and strains show good conformity with experimentally observed surface crack locations.
  • Publication
    Low heat input gas metal arc welding for dissimilar metal weld overlays part III: Hydrogen-assisted cracking susceptibility
    ( 2019)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Alexandrov, Boian T.
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    Dissimilar metal weld overlays of nickel-base alloys on low-alloy steel components are commonly used in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and power generation industries to provide corrosion and oxidation resistance in a wide range of service environments and temperatures. Traditionally, dissimilar weld overlays are produced using cold or hot wire gas tungsten arc welding. This study aims to identify and evaluate potential advantages of low heat input gas metal arc welding processes over the conventional gas tungsten arc welding in the production of such overlays. Parts I and II of this publication series described characteristics of the heat-affected zone and the transition zone region of alloy 625 on grade 22 steel overlays. These results indicate a good resistance against hydrogen-assisted cracking, which is being verified within this third part of the publication series. To determine the hydrogen-assisted cracking susceptibility, welded samples are tested using the delayed hydrogen-assisted cracking test. Fractography is performed using scanning electron microscopy along with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results confirm the suitability and efficiency of low heat input gas metal arc welding for dissimilar weld overlays. Variation of the postweld heat treatment procedure bears potential for improvement in this respect.
  • Publication
    Resistance spot welding under external load for evaluation of LME susceptibility of zinc coated advanced high strength steel sheets
    ( 2019)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Biegler, Max
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    Some zinc coated advanced high strength steels (AHSS), under certain manufacturing conditions, are known to be prone to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) during resistance spot welding. LME is an undesired phenomenon, which can cause both surface and internal cracks in a spot weld, potentially influencing its strength. An effort is made to understand influencing factors of LME better, and evaluate geometry-material combinations regarding their LME susceptibility. Manufacturers benefit from such knowledge because it improves the processing security of the materials. The experimental procedure of welding under external load is performed with samples of multiple AHSS classes with strengths up to 1200 MPa, including dual phase, complex phase and TRIP steels. This way, externally applied tensile load values are determined, which cause liquid metal embrittlement in the samples to occur. In the future, finite element simulation of this procedure gives access to in-situ stress and strain values present during LME formation. The visualization improves the process understanding, while a quantification of local stresses and strains allows an assessment of specific welded geometrie
  • Publication
    Susceptibility of electrolytically galvanized dual-phase steel sheets to liquid metal embrittlement during resistance spot welding
    ( 2018)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    Modern advanced high-strength steel sheets for automotive applications are mostly zinc coated for corrosion resistance. However, the presence of zinc can-besides its positive effects-increase the material's susceptibility to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) during resistance spot welding (RSW). Zinc and its eutectics are, due to their low melting point, present in liquid state during the welding process. This fact can, in combination with other factors like tensile strains or stresses, lead to the formation of brittle, intergranular cracks in the weld, and heat-affected zone. This phenomenon is commonly called liquid metal embrittlement. In order to understand the process from a practical perspective, one must learn what factors facilitate it. In this study, industry-relevant parameters are investigated regarding their influence on the occurrence of LME, embodied by the formation of surface cracks. It was found that electrode wear has less of an influence on the cracking susceptibility than welding current or tensile stresses. Finite element analysis is believed to provide a powerful tool in order to gain insights on the formation process. Modeling of the process shows promising initial results, revealing the underlying local stress and strain fields, unmeasurable with common techniques.
  • Publication
    Low heat input gas metal arc welding for dissimilar metal weld overlays part II: The transition zone
    ( 2018)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Alexandrov, Boian T.
    ;
    Rethmeier, Michael
    Dissimilar metal weld overlays (DMWOL) of nickel base alloys on low alloy steel components are commonly used in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and power generation industries to provide corrosion and oxidation resistance in a wide range of service environments and temperatures. Traditionally, dissimilar weld overlays are produced using cold or hot wire gas tungsten arc welding. This study aims to identify and evaluate potential advantages of low heat input gas metal arc welding processes over the conventional gas tungsten arc welding in the production of dissimilar weld overlays. In order to evaluate the quality of these overlays regarding resistance against hydrogen-assisted cracking, their transition zone region is investigated in this part of the publication series. Metallurgical characterization, including energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, is performed on Alloy 625/grade 22 steel overlays. The transition zone is characterized by a narrow planar growth zone and steep compositional gradients from the fusion boundary towards the weld metal. Evidence of low carbon contents in the planar growth zone, as well as for carbide precipitation in the cellular growth zone was found. The microstructure in the transition zone region of the fusion zone shows characteristics known to be suitable for good resistance against hydrogen embrittlement.
  • Publication
    Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Bestimmung der Rissanfälligkeit von hochfesten Stählen beim Widerstandspunktschweißen
    (Forschungsvereinigung Stahlanwendung, 2017)
    Rethmeier, Michael
    ;
    Suwala, Hubert
    ;
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    Salomon, Rainer