Structure for joining plate elements and method for joining the same

摘要

In order to join a first plate element such as a rear quarter panel of an automobile and a second plate element such as a roof panel together, an edge portion of the first plate element is provided with a joggled portion. The joggled portion is formed integrally with a general portion of the first plate element by way of a shoulder. The joggled portion includes an offset reinforcing portion having a band-shaped recess along the shoulder. A major portion lying closer to the terminal edge of the joggled portion than the reinforcing portion includes a joining surface to which an edge portion of the second plate element is joined in a face-to-face contact in such a manner that a gap is defined between an terminal edge of the edge portion and the shoulder. A welding material is built up into the recess of the reinforcing portion through the gap to thereby join the first and second plate elements together. The welding material within the recess reaches the back side of the second plate element so that the welding area is increased by the welding material and that the rigidity and strength of the joined structure is increased due to the cooperation of the reinforcing portion and the welding material. The structure prevents a local heating, suppresses thermal strains and concave thermal deformation of the two plate elements after cooling, and hence omits the hammering after the welding.