Numerical and experimental investigations of extensible die clinching

With an increasing application of clinching in different industrial fields, the demand for knowledge of static and dynamic characteristics of clinching is increased. In the present work, the extensible die clinching process was numerically investigated using finite element method. To validate the computational simulation of the extensible die clinching process, experimental tests on extensible die clinched specimens have been carried out. Good agreement is achieved between the predictions and the experimental results. Monotonic tensile tests were carried out to measure the ultimate tensile strengths of the extensible die clinching joints and clinching-bonded hybrid joints. Deformation and failure of the extensible die clinched joints under monotonic tensile loading were studied. The normal hypothesis tests were performed to examine the rationality of the test data. This work was also aimed at evaluating experimentally and comparing the strength and energy absorption of the extensible die clinched joints and clinching-bonded hybrid joints.