Mechanical Properties of Resistance Spot Welds in Lightweight Applications

............................................................................................................................ii APPENDED PAPERS.................................................................................................................iii DIVISION OF WORK BETWEEN AUTHORS.................................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................v INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................1 Background...................................................................................................................1 Research aim.................................................................................................................2 Research approach..........................................................................................................3 MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF WELDED JOINTS...........................................................................3 FINITE ELEMNT MODEL...........................................................................................................4 RESIDUAL STRESS MEASURMENT.............................................................................................6 EFFECT OF WELDING PARAMETERS ON RESIDUAL STRESS.........................................................7 ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK MODEL.................................................................................12 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................15 CONCLUSIONS.....................................................................................................................16 SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE WORK..........................................................................................17 SUMMARY OF APPENDED PAPERS..........................................................................................17 REFRENCES........................................................................................................................18