Investigation on manufacturing-induced pre-deformation on the fatigue behaviour of clinched joints

Abstract. The present study is an experimental analysis of the influence of pre-forming on the failure behaviour of clinched specimens under quasi-static and cyclic loading conditions. In this context, the geometric formation of the clinched joints is taken into account, with regard to the loading behaviour. The study also includes a comparison of the failure behaviour of quasi-static and cyclic tested specimen. Testing is done on non-pre-deformed and pre-deformed specimens. For this purpose, experimental investigations are carried out on two material combinations consisting of HCT590X steel sheet and EN AW-6014 T4 aluminium sheet. The focus is on the fatigue analysis of the clinched joints. The aim is to identify the failure modes under cyclic loading and the crack formation with regard to forming operations prior to the joining process. The investigations show that the cyclic load-bearing behaviour of the HCT590X joints is reduced by introducing a plastic pre-deformation of the to be joined parts.