Resistance Welding Numerical Simulation
A Promising Technique
Keywords:
resistance welding, numerical simulation, electricity, thermics, contact resistance, coupling, sensibility, validationAbstract
Among welding processes, resistance welding numerical simulation offers the advantage of a direct computation of heat sources through electro-thermal coupling. On the other hand, rare contact input data have to be found or measured. As for other welding processes, the general difficulty in numerical modelling is the availability of input data at all temperatures from room temperature to beyond melting point. Coupling of the first electrothermal models with mechanical models allows a good comparison between simulation and experience. Once a multiphysical validation of a model has been carried out, results like thermal cycles, weld size or residual stresses, strains and metallurgical state can be used for the purposes of process understanding, process control and weld behaviour modelling.
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