Application of the Taguchi Method for Optimization of Resistance Spot Welding for Electrolytic Zinc-Coated Steel JIS G3313 SECC

This research presents the results of analysis and experimentation to find the optimal parameters for resistance spot welding of Electrolytic Zinc-Coated Steel JIS G3313 SECC to achieve high tensile shear strength for use in the automotive industry. The Taguchi method was applied to design experiments and study the influence of three factors: welding time, welding current, and electrode force. Each factor was studied at three levels. The resulting Resistance Spot Welding (RSW) specimens were examined using tensile shear strength tests. Subsequently, the best parameters were further evaluated through macrostructure and fracture characteristics with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of the experimentation to find the optimal Taguchi parameters yielded a maximum tensile shear strength of 6.888 kN at a welding time of 19 cycles, a welding current of 8.5 kA, and an electrode force of 0.20 MPa. The analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) revealed that welding current had the most significant impact on the variable response in the resistance spot welding of SECC materials, with a delta value of 0.59. The delta values for welding time and electrode force were 0.40 and 0.11, respectively