Thermo‐mechanical modelling and finite element analysis of self‐piercing riveting processes

In this contribution, a thermo‐mechanical finite element analysis of the self‐piercing riveting process of two steel sheets is carried out taking into account the conversion of plastic work into heat. Thereby, a user defined constitutive model recently proposed by BRÖCKER and MATZENMILLER is applied considering the highly temperature and rate dependent characteristics of metals. All constitutive parameters are identified with test data of the microalloyed steel HX340LAD typically used for car body structures. The numerical results of the self‐piercing riveting process are compared to the according test data for model validation by means of the final joint geometry and the setting force.