Resistance spot welding of galvannealed high strength interstitial free steel

Variation in dynamic contact resistance with the change in welding process parameters such as weld current, weld time and electrode force were taken into account for establishing the range of adequate nugget formation parameters. Influence of the welding process parameters on the shear - tensile strength, nugget diameter and the observed failure mode was analysed. The adequate resistance spot welding process parameters for galvannealed high strength interstitial free steel sheets of 1.6 mm thickness were estimated as 8 kA weld current, 250 ms weld time and 3.5 kN electrode force. Increase in the mean dynamic contact resistance led to a significant reduction in nugget diameter. A critical nugget diameter distinguishing between the IF and PF mode was experimentally determined by failure mode analysis. Different numerical models for estimation of critical nugget diameter were evaluated.