Characterization of nugget nucleation quality based on the structure-borne acoustic emission signals detected during resistance spot welding process

Acoustic emission signals detected during the resistance spot welding of aluminum alloy were studied in order to assess the characterizations of welding process, the characterizations of the effect of welding parameters to nugget nucleation and the characterizations of the nugget quality by the analysis to acoustic emission signals. The results showed that the physical phases of nugget nucleation can be characterized by the acoustic emission signals detected during the resistance spot welding process. The effects of welding current and current duration to nugget nucleation can be characterized by the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission signals. The characteristic parameters of acoustic emission signals had a better relevance to nugget dimensions and weld strength, which made it possible to measure or predict the weld strength by the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission signals detected during the resistance spot welding process.