Half-sectioned spot weld parameter optimisation for liquid metal embrittlement analysis in advanced high-strength steels

Half-section welding has been proposed as a method to observe nugget growth throughout the resistance spot welding process. Some past studies used this technique as an in-situ monitoring approach to analyse the cracking behaviour during welding. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the half-sectioned welding parameters, which critically impacts the liquid metal embrittlement cracking index. This study optimised half-sectioned welding parameters for liquid metal embrittlement crack analysis by developing process maps that compare the half-sectioned and full-section processes. It was found that the liquid metal embrittlement crack located at the weld shoulder can correlate to the temperature gradient in the heat-affected zone. This study proposes half-sectioned welding as a viable technique for liquid metal embrittlement analysis.