Effect of process parameters on SPRC35 spot welded automotive panels

This paper presents an experimental study on the resistance spot weldability of SPRC35 (steel plate re-phosphorised cold rolled) sheets. The sheets were joined by using resistance spot welding as lap joint. The weld nugget diameter and tensile shear force were investigated. Tensile-shear tests were applied to the welded specimens to understand the tensile shear force that the joint can withstand. Empirical relationships were developed for both nugget diameter and tensile shear force. Use of automatic mode, will increase the dependence on the use of equations to predict the nugget diameter. The developed models have been checked for their adequacy and significance by the F test and t test respectively. The results obtained from the empirical relationships have been optimized and also tested using conformity test runs.