AlSi casting alloys combine excellent castability with high strength. Hence, this group of alloys is often used in the automotive sector. The challenge for this application is the brittle character of these alloys which leads to cracks during joint formation when mechanical joining technologies are used. A rise in ductility can be achieved by a considerable increase in the solidification rate which results in grain refinement. High solidification rates can be realized in twin–roll casting (TRC) by water-cooled rolls. Therefore, a hypoeutectic EN AC–AlSi9 (for European Norm - aluminum cast product) is manufactured by the TRC process and analyzed. Subsequently, joining investigations are performed on castings in as-cast and heat-treated condition using the self-piercing riveting process considering the joint formation and the load-bearing capacity. Due to the fine microstructure, the crack initiation can be avoided during joining, while maintaining the joining parameters, especially by specimens in heat treatment conditions. Furthermore, due to the extremely fine microstructure, the load-bearing capacity of the joint can be significantly increased in terms of the maximum load-bearing force and the energy absorbed.

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Due to the increasing use of multi-material constructions and the resulting material incompatibilities, mechanical joining technologies are gaining in importance. The reasons for this are the variety of joining possibilities as well as high load-bearing capacities. However, the currently rigid tooling systems cannot react to changing boundary conditions, such as changed sheet thicknesses or strength. For this reason, a large number of specialised joining processes have been developed to expand the range of applications. Using a versatile self-piercing riveting process, multi-material structures are joined in this paper. In this process, a modified tool actuator technology is combined with multi-range capable auxiliary joining parts. The multi-range capability of the rivets is achieved by forming the rivet head onto the respective thickness of the joining part combination without creating a tooling set-up effort. The joints are investigated both experimentally on the basis of joint formation and load-bearing capacity tests as well as by means of numerical simulation. It turned out that all the joints examined could be manufactured according to the defined standards. The load-bearing capacities of the joints are comparable to those of conventionally joined joints. In some cases the joint fails prematurely, which is why lower energy absorptions are obtained. However, the maximum forces achieved are higher than those of conventional joints. Especially in the case of high-strength materials arranged on the die side, the interlock formation is low. In addition, the use of die-sided sheets requires a large deformation of the rivet head protrusion, which leads to an increase in stress and, as a result, to damage if the rivet head. However, a negative influence on the joint load-bearing capacity could be excluded.</jats:p>

Mechanical joining technologies are increasingly used in multi-material lightweight constructions and offer opportunities to create versatile joining processes due to their low heat input, robustness to metallurgical incompatibilities and various process variants. They can be categorised into technologies which require an auxiliary joining element, or do not require an auxiliary joining element. A typical example for a mechanical joining process with auxiliary joining element is self-piercing riveting. A wide range of processes exist which are not requiring an auxiliary joining element. This allows both point-shaped (e.g., by clinching) and line-shaped (e.g., friction stir welding) joints to be produced. In order to achieve versatile processes, challenges exist in particular in the creation of intervention possibilities in the process and the understanding and handling of materials that are difficult to join, such as fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) or high-strength metals. In addition, predictive capability is required, which in particular requires accurate process simulation. Finally, the processes must be measured non-destructively in order to generate control variables in the process or to investigate the cause-effect relationship. This paper covers the state of the art in scientific research concerning mechanical joining and discusses future challenges on the way to versatile mechanical joining processes.

The predictive quality of numerical simulations for mechanical joining processes depends on the implemented material model, especially regarding the plasticity of the joining parts. Therefore, experimental material characterization processes are conducted to determine the material properties of sheet metal and generate flow curves. In this regard, there are a number of procedures which are accompanied by varying experimental efforts. This paper presents various methods of determining flow curves for HCT590X as well as EN AW-6014, including varying specimen geometries and diverse hardening laws for extrapolation procedures. The flow curves thus generated are compared considering the variety of plastic strains occurring in mechanical joining processes. The material data generated are implemented in simulation models for the joining technologies, clinching and self-piercing riveting. The influence of the varied methods on the predictive accuracy of the simulation model is analysed. The evaluation of the differing flow curves is achieved by comparing the geometric formation of the joints and the required joining forces of the processes with experimentally investigated joints.

The increasing use of multi-material constructions lead to a continuous increase in the use of mechanical joining techniques due to the wide range of joining possibilities as well as the high load-bearing capacities of the joints. Nevertheless, the currently rigid tool systems are not able to react to changing boundary conditions, like changing the material-geometry-combination. Therefore research work is crucial with regard to versatile joining systems. In this paper, a new approach for a versatile self-piercing riveting process considering the joining system as well as the auxiliary joining part is presented.