THEORY OF FORCES AND STRESSES IN SPOT WELDED OVERLAP JOINTS

The complete equations describing simple relations between forces and stresses at the weld spot of overlap joints are presented, and applied to specimens used in industry as an example. The equations are also m odified in respect to a measuring method for determining the weld spot forces. The essential components of the theoretical description are: an orthogonal reference system at the weld spot positioned according t o the principal loading direction, the decomposition of the weld spot forces into joint face forces and >>eigenforces<<, the weld spot model led as a rigid core for evaluating the stresses connected with the joi nt face forces, and a homogeneous distribution of the stresses resulti ng from the >>eigenforces<<. The assumptions and possible complication s of the method under engineering aspects and the details of the rigid core model are described in separate publications.