A Method for Characterization of Geometric Deviations in Clinch Points with Computed Tomography and Transient Dynamic Analysis

When joining lightweight parts of various materials, clinching is a cost efficient solution. In a production line, the quality of a clinch point is primarily controlled by measurement of dimensions, which are accessible from outside. However, methods such as visual testing and measuring the bottom thickness as well as the outer diameter are not able to deliver any information about the most significant geometrical characteristic of the clinch point, neck thickness and undercut. Furthermore, ex-situ destructive methods such as microsectioning cannot detect elastic deformations and cracks that close after unloading. In order to exceed the current limits, a new non-destructive in-situ testing method for the clinching process is necessary. This work proposes a concept to characterize clinch points in-situ by combining two complementary non-destructive methods, namely, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonic testing. Firstly, clinch points with different geometrical characteristics are analysed experimentally using ex-situ CT to get a highly spatially resolved 3D-image of the object. In this context, highly X-ray attenuating materials enhancing the visibility of the sheet-sheet interface are investigated. Secondly, the test specimens are modelled using finite element method (FEM) and a transient dynamic analysis (TDA) is conducted to study the effect of the geometrical differences on the deformation energy and to qualify the TDA as a fast in-situ non-destructive method for characterizing clinch points at high temporal resolution.