TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, Keke A1 - Wang, Zhuoqun A1 - Haak, Viktor A1 - Olfert, Viktoria A1 - El-Sari, Bassel A1 - Hein, David A1 - Biegler, Max A1 - Rethmeier, Michael A1 - Meschut, Gerson T1 - A novel welding schedule for expanding the expulsion-free process window in resistance spot welding of dissimilar joints with ultra-high strength steel N2 - This study introduces a novel approach to expanding the maximum expulsion-free process window in resistance spot welding (RSW) of dissimilar joints between ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) and mild steel. Quantitative analysis revealed that expulsion is driven by the interaction between nugget growth rate and plastic shell thickness. Based on this finding, the welding schedule was optimized by applying a preheating current to form an initial plastic shell, followed by a ramp-up current profile during the main welding phase. Welding simulations indicated that the ramp-up current slowed nugget growth, improved plastic shell formation, and prevented nugget breakthrough, thereby reducing the risk of expulsion. Experimental validation showed a 19 % increase in maximum expulsion-free heat input, with the nugget diameter increasing by 7.6 % to 8.94 mm compared to the reference welding schedule. Furthermore, even when expulsion occurred beyond the process window, this optimization delayed its occurrence, minimizing its impact on spot weld quality. Finally, the optimized welding schedule also exhibited significant robustness. Despite a 2 mm initial gap disturbance, the maximum expulsionfree heat input increased by 57 %, while the nugget diameter grew by 30 % to 8.92 mm. These results confirm that the proposed approach effectively extends the process window by preventing expulsion and enhances process stability. KW - Expulsion KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Finite element modelling KW - Preheating KW - Ultra-high-strength steel PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626877 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2025.02.009 SN - 2212-4616 VL - 137 SP - 306 EP - 309 PB - Elsevier BV AN - OPUS4-62687 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, Keke A1 - El-Sari, Bassel A1 - Olfert, Viktoria A1 - Wang, Zhuoqun A1 - Biegler, Max A1 - Rethmeier, Michael A1 - Meschut, Gerson T1 - Expulsion prevention in resistance spot welding of dissimilar joints with ultra-high strength steel: An analysis of the mechanism and effect of preheating current N2 - The widespread adoption of ultra-high strength steels, due to their high bulk resistivity, intensifies expulsion issues in resistance spot welding (RSW), deteriorating both the spot weld and surface quality. This study presents a novel approach to prevent expulsion by employing a preheating current. Through characteristic analysis of joint formation under critical welding current, the importance of plastic material encapsulation around the weld nugget (plastic shell) at high temperatures in preventing expulsion is highlighted. To evaluate the effect of preheating on the plastic shell and understand its mechanism in expulsion prevention, a two-dimensional welding simulation model for dissimilar ultra-high strength steel joints was established. The results showed that optimal preheating enhances the thickness of the plastic shell, improving its ability to encapsulate the weld nugget during the primary welding phase, thereby diminishing expulsion risks. Experimental validation confirmed that by employing the optimal preheating current, the maximum nugget diameter was enhanced to 9.42 mm, marking an increase of 13.4 % and extending the weldable current range by 27.5 %. Under quasi-static cross-tensile loading, joints with preheating demonstrated a 7.9 % enhancement in maximum load-bearing capacity compared to joints without preheating, showing a reproducible and complete pull-out failure mode within the heat-affected zone. This study offers a prevention method based on underlying mechanisms, providing a new perspective for future research on welding parameter optimization with the aim of expulsion prevention. KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Finite element modelling KW - Preheating KW - Weldable current range KW - Ultra-high strength steel PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-621719 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2024.06.034 VL - 124 SP - 489 EP - 502 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-62171 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -