Automakers build hundreds of prototype vehicles in order to test performance and durability of new cars. Some vehicles are used to test structural durability on proving ground. In case of fatigue failure of a prototype vehicle structure during durabil...
Automakers build hundreds of prototype vehicles in order to test performance and durability of new cars. Some vehicles are used to test structural durability on proving ground. In case of fatigue failure of a prototype vehicle structure during durability test, the vehicle design engineer investigates the failure area in a view of structural durability strength and makes modification to improve its structural strength.
Nearly 70% of failure occurs around the spot welded area, so it is necessary to make an analysis of fatigue life characteristics on spot welded area.
Ch.1 includes overview of dissertation and presents the background and direction of studies.
Ch2. of this thesis includes an analysis of spot weld and plug weld characteristics in a view of durability. Fatigue and tensile tests are performed as well as microstructure investigation for the purpose of estimating the strength of welded joints by using spot welded and CO₂plug welded specimens. Strain history, fatigue failure characteristics due to the load range and direction, and phase transformation due to the proceeding of fatigue test was presented. In CO₂plug welded tensile shear specimens, the main factor effecting on tensile strength and fatigue life is the nugget diameter of welding. Interface gap of plates, however, gives influence in fatigue strength when the gap is wider than 0.3mm. In L-type tension specimens, the tensile strength of spot welded specimens is superior to that of CO₂Ф6 plug welded specimens, while the fatigue strength in high cycle range shows an opposite trend. The heat affected zone of CO₂plug welded specimen is much larger than that of spot welded specimen, which increase fatigue strength of high cycle range in L-type tension specimens.
Partial reinforcement method to the fatigue failed spot welded area without building a new prototype car by applying an appropriate gas metal arc plug welding is suggested in fabricating automobile body at Ch.6
It is most common to weld two layer sheet plates together, but the fabrication limitation requires multi-layer spot welding of three or four layers over lapping. In welding the multi-layer sheets, it is more difficult to achieve adequate welding conditions. The appropriate conditions of multi-layer spot welding are studied by analyzing static strength and fatigue life. A methodology has been developed based on static and fatigue test results for converting multi-layer spot welding to that of twofold layer with equal strength. Also requirements on minimum strength and fatigue life are suggested according to the sheet conditions.
The tensile and fatigue characteristics of aluminum spot weld were also included in a view of comparing with steel spot weld. And the hardness distribution was contrary to that of steel spot weld.
There are several loading factors of spot or plug weld according to driving conditions and characteristic of each vehicle driver. Automaker produces vehicle strong enough to satisfy the several driving conditions in a view of vehicle durability around spot weld. In order to develop a car in a short period, automaker engineer tests vehicle at several accelerated durability test roads. Before testing the vehicle durabling of spot weld area, test engineer must know how much the test road is severe comparing with general field road which is composed of high way, city road, paved road, and unpaved road. Two test methods on road severity that is using relative and absolute fatigue life predictions are suggested, and the merits and demerits of two methods are also presented. By the results, appropriate durability test mode of passenger car around spot weld can be set.