Resistance Spot Welds of 304L Austenitic Stainless Steel, Part 3:1 & 1, 1 & 2 and 2 & 2 mm Thickness of Weld Joints

Part 1 of this research introduces the spot weld growth on 304L stainless steel, mainly by explaining information: such as the specimen size, static resistance, welding lobe, welding schedule, simulation, tensile shear load, failure mode, and elongation. In part 2, the analysis explains the dynamic resistance, force profile, electrically generated forging force, macro and micro structural orientation and also the hardness distribution. In part 3, the investigation reveals similar and dissimilar thicknesses: pertaining to macrograph orientation, electrode indentation and the weld growth. Three types of different thicknesses are investigated for the macrograph development and subsequently found the symmetrical weld bead geometry despite thicknesses. Electric current increment is mainly analysed in this experiments as it increases the weld size significantly. Strength tests show that the weld geometries have been widened in proportion to the escalation of electric currents. The astonishing factor is that the bead thickness reduction due to electrode indentation does not affect the tensile strengths at all.