Several correlations from the professional literature describing the shear and cross
tension strength (STS and CTS) of resistance spot welded (RSWed) thin steel sheets
were investigated. Some of them need chemical composition or weld nuggets strength
hardness as input parameters, making them hardly applicable in the planning stage
of the joints. Using STS and CTS data collected from over 250 papers, selected correlations
were tested, whether they are applicable to predict the STS and CTS of the RSWed joints
at the planning stage to help designers plan their static-loaded welds strength. Most
correlations had limitations in the applicable base materials' tensile strength range.
Therefore, new equations for STS and CTS are proposed, which can be used to plan in
the 300–18900 MPa base metals tensile strength range for similar and dissimilar RSWed
joints of thin steel sheets.
