MIG-Welding of Dissimilar Advanced High Strength Steel Sheets

The need for steel materials with increasing strength is constantly growing. The main application of such advanced high strength steels (AHSS) is the automobile industry, therefore the welding process of different types of AHSSs in dissimilar welding joint was investigated. To simulate the mass production of thin steel sheet constructions (such as car bodies) automated metal inert gas (MIG) welding process was used to weld the TWIP (twinning induced plasticity) and TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel sheets together. The welding parameters were successfully optimized for butt welded joints. The joints were investigated by visual examination, tensile testing, quantitative metallography and hardness measurements. The TRIP steel side of the joints showed increased microhardness up to (450-500 HV0.1) through increased fraction of bainite and martensite. Macroscopically the tensile specimen showed ductile behaviour, they broke in the austenitic weld material.