Numerical Simulation of Projection Welding Processes for Door Hinge of Automobile Based on Coupled Fields Analysis

Projection welding is a variation of electric resistance welding with the dynamic changes of the flow paths for heat and electrical properties with changing temperature caused by the large plastic deformation collapse of projection. As the joint type between the auto door hinge and the inner plate, projection welding may bring welding distortions and would affect the assembly quality of auto body. A comprehensive electric-thermal-mechanical numerical simulation was performed to quantitatively simulate the processes of projection welding by using a coupled finite element method. The mechanism of projection collapse and the formation process of nugget were discussed and good conclusions have been achieved comparing with the test results.