PLASTICITY-BASED WELDING DISTORTION ANALYSIS OF THIN PLATE CONNECTIONS

In autobody assembly, thin-wall, tubular connections have been used for the frame structure. Recent interest in light materials, such as aluminum or magnesium alloys, has been rapidly growing for weight reduction and fuel efficiency. Due to higher thermal expansion coefficient, low stiffness/strength, and low softening temperature of aluminum and magnesium alloys, control of welding-induced distortion in these connections becomes a critical issue. In this study, the material sensitivity to welding distortion was investigated using a T-tubular connection of three types materials; low carbon steel (A500 Gr. A), aluminum alloy (5456-H116) and magnesium alloy (AZ91C-T6). An uncoupled thermal and mechanical finite element analysis scheme using the ABAQUS software program was developed to model and simulate the welding process, welding procedure and material behaviors. The predicted angular distortions were correlated to the cumulative plastic strains. A unique relationship between distortion and plastic strains exists for all three materials studied. The amount of distortion is proportional to the magnitude and distribution of the cumulative plastic strains in the weldment. The magnesium alloy has the highest distortion sensitivity, followed by the other two materials with the steel connection having the least distortion. Results from studies of thin-aluminum plates show that welding distortion can be minimized by reducing the cumulative plastic strains by preventing heat diffusion into the base metal using a strong heat sink placed directly beneath the weld. A rapid cooling method is recommended to reduce welding distortion of magnesium tubular connections.