An experimental study on clinched joints realized with different dies

• Clinched joints produced with different types of dies were compared.
• Dimensional analysis and mechanical testing were performed.
• Single lap shear tests with one and two joints and peeling tests were conducted.
• Maximum force, stiffness and absorbed energy of the joints were investigated.
• The extensible die was allowed to produce joints with higher stiffness.

An experimental investigation has been conducted on mechanically clinched joints, produced with fixed and extensible dies with different forming forces. Mechanical testing involving single lap shear tests, both with one and two joining points, and peeling tests were conducted under quasi-static conditions to assess the different mechanical behaviors of these joints. The effect of the processing conditions on the main mechanical response of the joints, namely the maximum strength, stiffness and absorbed energy, was investigated.The results showed that the joints produced with the extensible die exhibited a similar strength as compared to those produced with the fixed die in single lap shear tests, while they are characterized by a higher strength (up to 40%) when loaded during the peeling test because of a larger interlock. In addition, the employment of extensible dies allows a drastic reduction of the forming loads as compared to those required by adopting the fixed dies.