Effect of electromagnetic stirring on the microstructures and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy resistance spot weld

•Electromagnetic stirring is applied to magnesium alloy resistance spot welding.•Electromagnetic stirring enlarges weld nugget diameter and refines grain size.•Electromagnetic stirring improves the peak load and energy absorption capability.•A failure load formula for magnesium alloy resistance spot weld was developed.

This paper investigates the effect of electromagnetic stirring (EMS) on the nugget formation, microstructure, and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy resistance spot weld (RSW). The EMS was induced by an external magnetic field (EMF), which produced by a pair of permanent magnets. The results showed that the EMS drove the molten metal in the nugget to flow clockwise and generated a centrifugal movement, which brought high temperature molten metal from the center of the growing nugget to its edge. Compared with the traditional magnesium alloy RSW, the weld under the EMS effect (EMS-RSW) exhibited larger weld diameter, higher tensile shear force and energy absorption, and finer equiaxed crystal and columnar crystal. The EMS-RSW had a higher hardness ratio of fusion zone to pullout failure location, which indicated that the EMS-RSW was more sensitivity to experience pullout failure. Finally, an empirical failure load formula for magnesium alloy resistance spot weld was developed.