2006 Volume 47 Issue 546 Pages 632-636
In this paper, we describe a seam welding technique for aluminum sheets with a gap (before welding) and its experimental results. When an impulse current from an energy-storing capacitor bank passes through a flat one-turn coil, a high-density magnetic flux is suddenly generated inside the coil. Eddy currents are induced in the overlapping parts of two aluminum sheets (1 mm thick each) placed inside the coil. The two parts are strongly pressed simultaneously by applying an electromagnetic force, leading to their collision. If the movement velocity of these parts is high, both their surfaces should be clarified by the effect of the collision known as explosive welding, and then joined by both the electromagnetic force applied and the joule heat generated in them. The bank energy required for welding 5×50 mm2 area becomes less than 1 kJ by generating a gap between the two aluminum sheets.
