Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Investigation of liquid metal embrittlement avoidance strategies for dual phase steels via electro-thermomechanical finite element simulation
    ( 2022-06) ;
    Böhne, Christoph
    ;
    ;
    Meschut, Gerson
    ;
    Modern advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) sheets used in automotive body construction are mostly zinc coated for corrosion resistance. The presence of zinc can cause cracking in steels due to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) during resistance spot welding (RSW). In combination with factors such as tensile strains, liquid zinc can lead to the formation of brittle, intergranular cracks in the weld and heat affected zone. While practical investigations to mitigate LME occurrence exist, the reason why a certain parameter might cause or prevent LME is often unknown. Numerical resistance spot welding simulation can visualize the underlying stresses, strains and temperatures during the welding process and investigate experimentally unmeasurable phenomena. In this work, a 3-dimensional electro-thermomechanical finite element approach is used to assess and investigate the critical parameters leading to LME occurrence. Experimentally observed crack sizes are correlated with the corresponding local strain rates and temperature exposure durations in the simulation. With this data, a map of LME occurrence over driving influence factors is drafted and discussed for effectiveness.
  • Publication
    Investigation of liquid metal embrittlement of dual phase steel joints by electro-thermomechanical spot-welding simulation
    ( 2019)
    Frei, Julian
    ;
    ; ;
    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.