RT - Journal Article T1 - Analysis of the laser welding parameters of stainless steel foil by statistical response surface methodology for joining PEMFC bipolar plates JF - mdrsjrns YR - 2018 JO - mdrsjrns VO - 18 IS - 5 UR - http://mme.modares.ac.ir/article-15-15578-en.html SP - 132 EP - 141 K1 - Pulsed laser welding K1 - Response surface methodology K1 - Weld defects K1 - Shear strength K1 - PEMFC bipolar plates AB - In the present study, the effect of parameters of autogenous pulsed Nd: YAG laser welding process on the lap joint of a 316L stainless steel foil with a thickness of 100 µm to be used as bipolar plates of polymeric fuel cell was investigated. For this purpose, the statistical tools, the analysis of variance and the various diagrams were used to analyze the data by response surface methodology. The peak power (130 to 650 W), pulse durability (1.5 to 3.5 ms), and welding frequency (14 to 18 Hz) were considered as input parameters. The mentioned statistical method was able to predict the effect of welding parameters by developing second-order polynomials, so that the total error including the repeatability error and the lack of fit error for shear strength model, weld undercut model, and weld underfill model obtained 2, 8 and 3, respectively. The defects of weld undercut and lack of penetration were identified as most important factors affecting the shear strength. The laser power is as the main parameter in this process and the impact of it on the shear strength of the weld, the weld undercut and the weld underfill is calculated 64, 62 and 66%, respectively. Finally, the maximum shear strength with the value of 522 MPa is achieved at a peak power of 260 W, pulsed duration of 3 ms and welding frequency of 17 Hz. In this case, the weld undercut is determined as 3 micrometers. LA eng UL http://mme.modares.ac.ir/article-15-15578-en.html M3 ER -