TY - JOUR A1 - Prabitz, Konstantin Manuel A1 - Antretter, Thomas A1 - Rethmeier, Michael A1 - El-Sari, Bassel A1 - Schubert, Holger A1 - Hilpert, Benjamin A1 - Gruber, Martin A1 - Sierlinger, Robert A1 - Ecker, Werner T1 - Numerical and experimental assessment of liquid metal embrittlement in externally loaded spot welds N2 - Zinc-based surface coatings are widely applied with high-strength steels in automotive industry. Some of these base materials show an increased brittle cracking risk during loading. It is necessary to examine electrogalvanized and uncoated samples of a high strength steel susceptible to liquid metal embrittlement during spot welding with applied external load. Therefore, a newly developed tensile test method with a simultaneously applied spot weld is conducted. A fully coupled 3D electrical, thermal, metallurgical and mechanical finite element model depicting the resistant spot welding process combined with the tensile test conducted is mandatory to correct geometric influences of the sample geometry and provides insights into the sample’s time dependent local loading. With increasing external loads, the morphology of the brittle cracks formed is affected more than the crack depth. The validated finite element model applies newly developed damage indicators to predict and explain the liquid metal embrittlement cracking onset and development as well as even ductile failure. KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Finite element simulation KW - Advanced high-strength steel KW - Liquid metal embrittlement KW - Damage prediction KW - Tensile resistance spot welding experiment PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-594848 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40194-024-01696-7 SN - 0043-2288 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-59484 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, K. A1 - Meschut, G. A1 - Seitz, G. A1 - Biegler, M. A1 - Rethmeier, Michael T1 - The Identification of a New Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) Type in Resistance Spot Welding of Advanced High Strength Steels on Reduced Flange Widths N2 - Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking is a phenomenon observed during resistance spot welding (RSW) of zinc􀀀coated advanced high􀀀strength steels (AHSS) in automotive manufacturing. In this study, severe cracks are observed at the edge of the sheet under reduced flange widths. These cracks, traversing the AHSS sheet, culminate at the edge with a width of approximately 1.2 mm. Through combined numerical and experimental investigations, and material testing, these cracks are identified and validated as a new type of LME crack. The mechanism behind this crack formation is attributed to unique geometric conditions that, when compared to center welding, amplify radial material flow by ninefold to 0.87 mm. The resultant tangential tensile stresses approximate 760 MPa, which exceed the yield strength of the examined advanced high􀀀strength steel (AHSS) under heightened temperature conditions, and when combined with liquid zinc, promote the formation of this new type of LME crack. KW - Liquid metal embrittlement KW - Crack KW - Advanced high strength steels KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Simulation KW - Flange width PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-586940 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101754 VL - 13 IS - 10 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-58694 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, Keke A1 - Sowada, Matthias A1 - Olfert, Viktoria A1 - Seitz, Georg A1 - Schreiber, Vincent A1 - Heitmann, Marcel A1 - Hein, David A1 - Biegler, Max A1 - Jüttner, Sven A1 - Rethmeier, Michael A1 - Meschut, Gerson T1 - Influence of liquid metal embrittlement on the failure behavior of dissimilar spot welds with advanced high-strength steel: A component study N2 - This study investigates the effects of liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracks on the mechanical performance of resistance spot-welded joints in zinc-coated advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) at the component level. To this end, a novel component-level test specimen featuring a hat and L-shaped profile was developed to identify critical failure points under three-point bending loads. Load-bearing capacity tests were subsequently conducted under both quasi-static and impact loading conditions, specifically targeting LME cracks with an average depth reaching 63.6% of the sheet thickness. By monitoring the surface strain of spot welds affected by LME cracks, the study visualizes stress concentration effects at the crack tips and traces the propagation of these cracks into the base material, which ultimately leads to material tearing and joint failure. The findings reveal that the effect of LME cracks in reducing load-bearing capacity is more pronounced under impact loading than under quasi-static loading, highlighting a previously underexplored aspect of LME behavior under impact loading. Specifically, the peak load decreased by 3.9% and 10.8%, while energy absorption declined by 52.2% and 78.3% under quasistatic and impact loading, respectively. KW - Liquid metal embrittlement KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Impact loading KW - Crack propagation KW - Advanced high-strength steel PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-621727 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.11.166 VL - 33 SP - 8321 EP - 8328 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-62172 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Biegler, Max A1 - Yang, Keke A1 - Meschut, Gerson A1 - Rethmeier, Michael T1 - Occurrence and avoidance of liquid metal embrittlement in resistance spot welding of springback-afflicted deep-drawn components N2 - This study investigates the occurrence and mitigation of liquid metal embrittlement occurring during resistance spot welding in deep-drawn automotive components, specifically focusing on an S-Rail made from advanced high-strength steel. A simulation-based liquid metal embrittlement risk criterion based on local major component stresses was established and used to quantify and compare liquid metal embrittlement risks between different tests. Experimental and numerical analyses were conducted, revealing that springback significantly impacts liquid metal embrittlement formation. Adjustments in electrode geometry and hold time post-welding were found to mitigate liquid metal embrittlement risks. The effects of stack-up configuration and related parameter settings on liquid metal embrittlement occurrence were identified and liquid metal embrittlement was effectively prevented across both stack-up configurations. These findings advance the understanding of liquid metal embrittlement mechanisms and provide practical approaches to enhance the spot weld quality in AHSS-based body-in-whites. KW - Liquid metal embrittlement KW - Crack KW - Advanced high-strength steels KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Weld current KW - Heat input KW - Simulation KW - Springback KW - Deep drawing KW - S-Rail PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-636577 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/13621718251340452 SN - 1362-1718 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - SAGE Publications AN - OPUS4-63657 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Böhne, Chr. A1 - Meschut, G. A1 - Biegler, M. A1 - Rethmeier, Michael T1 - Avoidance of liquid metal embrittlement during resistance spot welding by heat input dependent hold time adaption N2 - Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking can occur during resistance spot welding (RSW) in zinc-coated advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) for automotive production. In this study, a methodological variation of hold time is performed to investigate the process-related crack influence factors. A combination of numerical and experimental investigations confirms, that the extent of heat dissipation and re-heating of the sheet surface can be influenced and thus the degree of crack formation can be controlled in a targeted manner by the parameterisation of the hold time. The temperature and stress history of crack-free and crack-afflicted spot welds are analysed and a conclusion on the borders defining the LME active region is derived. KW - Liquid metal embrittlement KW - Crack KW - Advanced high-strength steels KW - Resistance spot welding KW - Hold time KW - Heat input KW - Simulation PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/13621718.2020.1795585 SN - 1362-1718 VL - 25 IS - 7 SP - 617 EP - 624 PB - Taylor Francis Online AN - OPUS4-51096 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -