Abstract:
The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a laser welded joint having exceptional joint strength in which annular welding beads are prevented from cracking during lap laser welding of a steel plate in which the beads are formed in multiple layers said joint comprising welding beads solely in the quantity necessary for joint strength; and to provide a laser welding method. The present invention is a laser welded joint having exceptional joint strength in which annular welding beads are prevented from cracking during lap laser welding of a steel plate in which the beads are formed in multiple layers said joint comprising welding beads solely in the quantity necessary for joint strength wherein the laser welded joint is characterized in being manufactured by a method provided with a step for stacking a plurality of metal plates and forming a first welding bead by laser irradiation and a step for sequentially forming two or more welding beads by laser irradiation on the outside of the first welding beads the surface hardness of the welding beads increasing from the inside beads to the outside beads.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
c/o NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
2. MIYAZAKI Yasunobu
c/o NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
Specification
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a welded joint
obtained by overlaying a plurality of metal sheets and
spot welding them by a laser, mo^e particularly relates
to a laser welded joint given multiple weld beads,
improved in quality, and excellent in joint strength and
to a laser welding method for th% same.
Background Art
[0002] For example, in recent years, to respond to the
demands for improvement of the fuel efficiency of
automobiles and enhancement of safety or the like, high
strength thin-gauge steel sheets have been used in large
amounts in automobile body. Use o,f laser welding to weld
these steel sheets at a faster s$eed has been sought.
Furthermore, when overlaying and laser welding high
strength thin-gauge steel sheets, it is preferable that a
high strength of the joints can tje stably obtained.
[0003] Laser welding uses las&r beam as a heat source,
so enables more reliable and easier control of the heat
input compared with arc welding £jUch as TIG welding and
MIG welding. For this reason, by suitably setting the
welding speed, the irradiation pc>wer of the laser beam,
the flow rate of the shielding g^s, and other welding
conditions, the welding deformation can be reduced.
Further, laser welding enables welding from one side, so
is preferable for. welding for assembling complicated
members such as the body of automobiles
[0004] In recent years, high efficiency remote laser
welding using a mirror for positioning a laser beam at a
high speed and moving it between weld locations in a
short time has been spreading.
[0005] In remote laser welding, for example, as shown
- 2 -
in FIG. 5, a plurality of weld points of the flange part
50a of a hat-shaped member 50 are laser welded with weld
beads 51.
[0006] In laser welding, if a load is applied to the
weld zone, stress concentrates near the portion where the
fusion line of the weld bead (weld interface) and the
overlaid part of the steel sheets intersect. For this
reason, depending on the magnitude of the load, sometimes
this leads to fracture.
[0007] PLT 1 discloses a method of dealing with this
problem by, as shown in FIG. 4, further forming a second
weld bead 61 at the inside of a first weld bead 60 to
make the weld bead multiple beads and thereby further
improve the j oint strength of the steel sheets 5, 5 and
tempering the first bead 60 by the heat of the second
bead 61. Due to this, the ductility of the weld interface
of the weld bead is improved, the concentration of stress
at the overlaid part at the time of application of load
is eased, and the tolerance to the applied load becomes
higher.
[0008] PLT 2 discloses the method of forming three
beads in the order of the main bead, compression field
providing bead, and tempered bead and preventing cracking
of the -beads.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0009] PLT 1: International Publication No.
WO2012/050097A
PLT 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-240086A
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0010] When like in PLT 1 forming multiple ring-shaped
weld beads to laser weld steel sheets, when forming the
second weld bead inside the first weld bead, sometimes a
longitudinal crack forms at the inside weld crack
depending on the material of the steel sheets welded or
the size of the weld bead.
10011] If a load is applied to a weld in which a crack
has occurred, the value of the stress generated near the
portion where the fusion line of the bead and the
overlaid surfaces of the steel sheets intersect becomes
higher compared with when no crack has occurred. As a
result, it becomes difficult to secure strength against
shear load parallel to the overlaid surfaces of the steel
sheets and strength against the load in the peeling
direction.
[00X2] In PLT 2, when the joint strength is not
sufficient with a 3-circular beads, a 3+2n ("n" is an
integer of 0 or more) number of beads are formed like
with a 5-circular beads or 7-circular beads so as to form
more than the number of beads required for securing the
j oint strength.
[0013] At this time, when welding a location with a
limited area such as a flange, the distance between the
beads is predetermined, so once formed beads axe again
welded. As a result, due to spatter, the thickness of the
weld metal in the sheet thickness direction is reduced.
Further, due to the excessive heat input, there are the
defects that the heat affected zone is softened and the
joint strength falls.
[0014]• The present invention, in consideration- of the
above situation, has as its object to provide a laser
welded joint excellent in joint strength preventing a
bead from cracking and comprised of exactly the number of
weld beads required for joint strength and a laser
welding method for the same in overlay laser welding of
steel sheets forming multiple ring-shaped weld beads.
Solution to Problem
[0015] The inventors studied the causes for cracks of
an inside bead as described above in laser welding of
metal sheets by multiple beads.
[0016] As a result, they discovered that the crack
occurring in an inside bead when successively forming
ring-shaped or open ring-shaped weld beads from the
outside to the inside is a solidification crack and the
solidification crack is affected by tensile residual
stress generated at the time of outside welding.
[0017] Therefore, they discovered that when forming
multiple beads, it is possible to successively form ringshaped
or open ring-shaped weld beads from the inside
toward the outside to prevent cracks of the beads and
form multiple beads. Further, they discovered that by
adjusting the time interval when forming the inside and
outside beads, or by forming the outside bead partially
overlapping the inside bead, it is possible to further
improve the tolerance of the welded joint to the applied
load.
[0018] The present invention is a result of studies
conducted based on these discoveries and has as its gist
the following:
[0019] (1) A laser welded joint obtained by welding a
plurality of overlaid metal sheets, comprising triple or
more ring-shaped or open ring-shaped weld beads, wherein
a surface hardness of the weld beads increases from an
inside bead to an outside bead.
[0020] (2) A laser welding method overlaying a
plurality of metal sheets and forming multiple ringshaped
-or open ring-shaped weld beads to thereby weld
together the overlaid metal sheets by laser irradiation,
comprising the steps of forming a ring-shaped or open
ring-shaped first weld bead by laser irradiation and
successively forming a further two or more ring-shaped or
open ring-shaped weld beads from the inside toward the
outside at the outside of the first weld bead by laser
irradiation.
[0021] (3) The laser welding method according to (2),
wherein an outside weld bead is formed after the elapse
of: 0.5 sec or more from the finish time of forming an
inside weld bead.
[0022] (4} The laser welding method according to (2)
or (3), wherein the metal sheets are steel sheets with a
C content of 0.8% or less and the second and later weld
beads start to be formed after the temperature of the
inside weld bead becomes the Ms point-50°C or less.
[0023] (5) The laser welding method according to any
one of (2) to (4), wherein both the first weld bead and
the weld bead formed at the outside of the same are
formed so as not to be overlaid.
[0024] (6) The laser welding method according to any
one of (2) to (4), wherein the weld bead formed at the
outermost side is formed so as to partially overlap the
inside weld bead.
[0025] (7) The laser welding method according to any
one of (2) to (6), wherein the weld beads are formed by
remote laser welding.
[0026] Therefore, a "ring-shaped weld bead" means a
bead" with a circular, elliptical, oval, or polygonal path
or such a bead with a partially constricted part wherein
the bead path is continuous and the bead surrounds a
specific range. Further, an "open ring-shaped weld bead"
means a bead with a circular, elliptical, oval, or
polygonal path or such a bead with a partially
constricted part wherein the bead path includes a
partially discontinuous part and the bead and line
segment connecting the parts of the bead surround a
specific range.
[0027] Further, the "outside diameter of the bead"
means the maximum length of a line segment connecting any
two points on the line connecting.the fusion lines at the
outsides of the bead (weld toe).
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0028] According to the present invention, it is
possible to prevent a crack in the beads and form
multiple beads by successively forming weld beads from
the inside toward the outside in laser lap welding of
metal sheets forming multiple ring-shaped or open ringshaped
weld beads. As a result, it is possible to provide
a laser welded joint more excellent in joint strength
than the past. Further, the effect is obtained of
improvement of the corrosion resistance of the inside of
the beads by forming multiple ring-shaped or open ringshaped
weld beads.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0029] FIGS. 1A and IB are views showing an outline of
multiple beads formed by the laser welding method of the
present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view
and FIG. IB is a view showing a cross-section A-A' of
FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is an example of a hardness profile of a weld
formed by the laser welding method of the present
invention.
FIGS. 3A to 3F are views for explaining a bead shape of a
ring-shaped weld bead.
FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example of a
conventional multiple ring-shaped weld bead.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of laser welding a
flange of a hat shaped member using ring-shaped weld
beads.
Description of Embodiments
[0030] Below, embodiments of the laser welding method
of the present invention will be explained in detail
while referring to the drawings. First, the basic- mode of
the welding method of the present invention will be
explained for the case of welding using a circular ringshaped
weld bead.
[0031] When using laser welding to weld the overlaid
parts of metal sheets 5, the characteristics of laser
welding are used, as shown in FIG. 5, for laser welding
by a ring-shaped path suitable for the size of the
nuggets in resistance welding.
[0032] The art of PLT 1 forms a first bead 60 serving
as the basic weld bead and forms; a second bead 61 at the
inside of that to be close to or overlap the first bead
60 to thereby form multiple beads. At that time,
sometimes a longitudinal crack occurs at the second bead
formed at the inside.
[0033] The inventors investigated the causes by
observation of the fractured surfaces and as a result
learned that the longitudinal crack of the second bead is
a solidification crack. Therefore, the inventors further
studied the reasons why the inside second bead cracks at
the time of solidification.
[0034] As a result of the studies of the inventors, it
was seen that cracking of the second bead tends to become
more remarkable the longer the length of the ring-shaped
first weld bead, that is, the larger the diameter of the
ring-shaped bead. Further, it was learned that when the
first weld bead is small in diameter or when forming a
second bead in a region nearer the center, no crack
occurs. From these facts, the inventors thought that a
crack was caused by the following:
[0035] If forming the first bead, in the region
surrounded by the bead, residual stress of tension occurs
in the direction perpendicular to the weld line in the
plane vertical to the sheet thickness direction. If
second welding is performed in a region in which the
residual stress of tension occurs, the constraints on the
steel sheet in the region adjoining the molten bead are
lifted; so due to the tensile residual stress, the sheet
deforms so as to pull the molten bead in the width
direction. For this reason, the second weld bead cracks
in the middle of solidification before the completion of
the solidification.
[0036] Therefore, the inventors studied the method of
forming a second bead not affected by the residual stress
of tension occurring in a direction perpendicular to the
weld line in a plane vertical to the sheet thickness
direction in the region surrounded by the first bead. As
a result, they discovered that by successively forming a
second bead and further beads not at the inside but at
the outside of the first bead, it is possible to weld the
^sheets while preventing cracks of the second and later
- 8 -
beads.
[0037] That is, they learned that when forming
multiple beads, by successively forming the weld beads
from the inside toward the outside, it is possible to
5 form the outside bead 20 without being affected by the
residual stress of tension caused at the inside of the
previous bead and thereby possible to form multiple beads
without causing cracks.
[0038] The present invention was made after further
10 studying its embodiments under the above such basic
principle. Below, referring to FIG. 1, the requirements
and preferable requirements of the present invention will
be explained.
[0039] Formation of First Weld Bead
15 In the present invention, a plurality of metal sheets 5
are overlaid and a laser beam is irradiated at a
scheduled welding position of the overlaid metal sheets
to form multiple ring-shaped weld beads and thereby weld
together the overlaid metal sheets.
20 [0040] At this time, in the present invention, first,
a laser beam is run over a predetermined welding location
to form a first weld bead 10 forming the innermost side
bead. By setting welding points at a plurality of
locations such as in FIG. 5, a welded structural member
25 can be produced, but here welding at a single location
will be explained.
[0041] The first weld bead 10 for example is formed to
an outside diameter of 3 mm to 15.mm. Note that the shape
of the bead formed will be explained later, but the weld
30 bead is not limited to a circular shape, so in the
present invention, the maximum length of a line segment
connecting two points of the line connecting the fusion
weld lines at the outsides of the weld bead (weld toe at
outsides of weld bead) will be defined as the outside
35 diameter.
[0042] Formation of Second Bead and hater Weld Beads
Next, a laser beam is run over the^outside region of the
- 9 -
first weld bead 10 to form the second weld bead 20 and
succeeding weld bead 30 successively toward the outside.
To obtain the required joint strength, the number of
beads from the second weld bead 20 on is made two or more
5 beads.
[0043] When applying the present invention to for
example welding a structural member of an automobile, the
outermost side weld bead (outermost bead) preferably is
given an outside diameter of 20 mm or less. The reason is
10 that structural members for automobiles are being made
lighter in weight. The widths of the overlaid parts such
as the flanges of the members shown in FIG. 5 are also
becoming narrower. Further, members are being welded by
laser at a high speed by remote welding.
15 [0044] The width of the weld bead formed by laser,
while depending on the laser apparatus used, is usually
0.5 to 1.5 mm. The number of beads able to be formed at a
single weld point may be determined according to the
application of weld joint and is not particularly
20 limited. When applying the present invention to welding
of a structural member for automobile use, if considering
the outside diameter and bead width of the outermost
bead, the maximum number of beads is about 10.
[0045]• Hardnesses of Weld Beads (In Description,
25 Unless Otherwise Indicated, Indicating Surface Hardnesses
of Weld Beads)
By forming the beads in this way, the inside bead
softens, so the hardnesses of the weld beads become
higher the further to the outside. The hardnesses of the
30 weld beads are obtained by measuring the Vicker's
hardnesses at six to eight points or so in the width
direction from the bead width and finding the average
value. By establishing such a.hardness profile, it is
possible to raise the tensile shear strength of the
35 joint,
[0046] FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardness profile
when using the laser welding method of the present
- 10 -
invention to form beads at 980 MPa class steel sheets by
a laser output of 4kW, welding speed of 4 m/min, in
concentric shapes in the order of (j)8 mm,
Documents
Application Documents
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Name
Date
1
Translated Copy of Priority Document [17-03-2017(online)].pdf