6061铝合金无倾角搅拌摩擦焊工艺及性能

目的 为了适应空间曲面构件的搅拌摩擦焊,开展6061铝合金无倾角搅拌摩擦焊工艺及性能的研究。方法 采用无倾角搅拌摩擦焊用的搅拌头,对5 mm厚6061-T6铝合金板材进行试验,研究焊缝成形及接头力学性能,并分析接头组织特征。结果 零倾角搅拌摩擦焊接头从组织上可区分为5个不同区域：焊核区(WNZ)、热力影响区(TMAZ)、热影响区(HAZ)、轴肩影响区(SAZ)和母材(BM);随着搅拌头转速增加,焊缝宽度和焊核尺寸均先变大后变小;随焊接速度增加,焊缝宽度和焊核尺寸均逐渐变小;当焊接速度固定时,随搅拌头转速增加,接头拉伸强度先增加后减小;当搅拌头转速固定时,随焊接速度增加,接头拉伸强度逐渐增大。结论 采用无倾角搅拌摩擦焊接方法,能够实现对5 mm厚6061-T6铝合金板材的有效焊接。     

Lap joint properties of FSWed dissimilar formed 5052 Al and 6061 Al alloys with different thickness

Lap joint friction stir welding (FSW) between dissimilar 5052-H112 (1 mm) and 6061-T6 (2 mm) Al alloys with different thickness was carried out with various tool rotation speeds and welding speeds according to the fixed location of each material on bottom or top sheet. Interface morphology was characterized by pull-up or pull-down from initial joint line. Amount of vertical material transports increased and thickness of 5052 resultantly lessened with increasing tool rotation and decreasing welding speed, which were the conditions of the weak bond. Higher stress concentration on the interface pull-up region, the penetration of unbonded region into the weld zone and the lessened thickness of 5052 Al part might be the reasons for lower fracture load. Higher fracture load was acquired at the lower tool rotation speed and higher welding speed when a thicker 6061 was fixed at retreating side on top sheet. Interface morphology was the most important factor determining the mechanical strength of lap FSW joints and can be manageable using FSW parameters.     

Superplastic Forming of Friction Stir Welded AA6061-T6 Alloy Sheet with Various Tool Rotation Speed

This study attempts to investigate the superplastic forming (SPF) of friction stir welded (FSW) AA6061-T6 alloy sheet at various tool rotation speeds in the range of 500 to 2000 rpm. The effect of FSW on SPF free blow forming of AA6061-T6, pole height, pole thickness, equivalent strain rate, and equivalent flow stress were investigated at constant pressure and constant temperature. Using the Cheng model the pole thickness, the equivalent strain rate, and equivalent flow stress were determined from superplastic free blow forming experiment. The finite element modeling and simulation is performed over the SPF of FSW specimens using selective superplasticity method. Experimental results indicate that tool rotation speed is the critical parameter during friction stir welding that has a greater influence on SPF. The theoretical modeling results exhibit that the SPF of friction stir welding can be practically applied to determine pole thickness, strain rate, flow stress, and strain rate sensitivity index. The finite element modeling results were found to be fairly agreeing with the experimental results. Hence, superplasticity can be significantly enhanced by friction stir welding by varying the FSW tool rotation speed.     

纯铝板搅拌摩擦焊温度场数值模拟

建立了搅拌摩擦焊热源模型,利用有限元分析软件ABAQUS模拟了搅拌摩擦焊的温度场,研究了焊接速度、搅拌头轴肩尺寸和垫板材质对搅拌摩擦焊接过程中试板的温度场的影响。结果表明：随着焊接速度的提高,焊件上各点的峰值温度降低,经历高温区的时间减少;轴肩摩擦热是热输入的主要来源,随着搅拌头轴肩尺寸的增加,焊缝中心高温区同一等温线上宽下窄的分布特征越来越明显;垫板材质明显影响焊件底部的温度和分布;适当的焊接参数、搅拌头尺寸及散热条件对获得较好的焊缝质量极为重要。     

Establishing relationship between the base metal properties and friction stir welding process parameters of cast aluminium alloys

In friction stir welding (FSW), the material under the rotating action of non-consumable tool has to be stirred properly to get defect free welds in turn it will improve the strength of the welded joints. The welding conditions and parameters are differing based on the mechanical properties of base materials such as tensile strength, ductility and hardness which control the plastic deformation during friction stir welding. The FSW process parameters such as tool rotation speed, welding speed and axial force, etc. play a major role in deciding the weld quality. FSW Joints of cast aluminium alloys A319, A356, and A413 were made by varying the FSW process parameters and the optimum values were obtained. In this investigation, empirical relationships are established and they can be effectively used to predict the optimum FSW process parameters to fabricate defect free joints with high tensile strength from the known base metal properties of cast aluminium alloys.     

Evolution of microstructures and mechanical properties in similar and dissimilar friction stir welding of AA5086 and AA6061

In this work, thermo-mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution in similar and dissimilar friction stir welding of AA6061-T6 and AA5086-O have been investigated. Firstly, the thermo-mechanical behaviors of materials during similar and dissimilar FSW operations have been predicted using three-dimensional finite element software, ABAQUS, then, the mechanical properties and the developed microstructures within the welded samples have been studied with the aid of experimental observations and model predictions. It is found that different strengthening mechanisms in AA5086 and AA6061 result in complex behaviors in hardness of the welded cross section where the hardness variation in similar AA5086-O joints mainly depends on recrystallization and generation of fine grains in weld nugget, however, the hardness variations in the weld zone of AA6061/AA6061 and AA6061/AA5086 joints are affected by subsequent aging phenomenon. Also, both experimental and predicted data illustrate that the peak temperature in FSW of AA6061/AA6061 is the highest compared to the other joints employing the same welding parameters.     

Effect of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints of AA7039 aluminum alloy

A high strength Al–Zn–Mg alloy AA7039 was friction stir welded by varying welding and rotary speed of the tool in order to investigate the effect of varying welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties. The friction stir welding (FSW) process parameters have great influence on heat input per unit length of weld, hence on temperature profile which in turn governs the microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints. There exits an optimum combination of welding and rotary speed to produce a sound and defect free joint with microstructure that yields maximum mechanical properties. The mechanical properties increase with decreasing welding speed/ increasing rotary speed i.e. with increasing heat input per unit length of welded joint. The high heat input joints fractured from heat affected zone (HAZ) adjacent to thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) on advancing side while low heat input joints fractured from weld nugget along zigzag line on advancing side.     

Tool geometry,rotation and travel speeds effects on the properties of dissimilar magnesium/aluminum friction stir welded lap joints

Lap joint friction stir welding (FSW) between dissimilar AZ31B and Al 6061 alloys sheets was conducted using various welding parameters including tool geometry, rotation and travel speeds. Tapered threaded pin and tapered pin tools were applied to fabricate FSW joints, using different rotation and travel speeds. Metallurgical investigations including X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), optical microscopy images (OM), scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were used to characterize joints microstructures made with different welding parameters. Intermetallic phases were detected in the weld zone (WZ). Various microstructures were observed in the stir zone which can be attributed to using different travel and rotation speeds. Mechanical evaluation including lap shear fracture load test and microhardness measurements indicated that by simultaneously increasing the tool rotation and travel speeds, the joint tensile strength and ductility reached a maximum value. Microhardness studies and extracted results from stress–strain curves indicated that mechanical properties were affected by FSW process. Furthermore, phase analyses by XRD indicated the presence of intermetallic compounds in the weld zone. Finally, in the Al/Mg dissimilar weld, fractography studies showed that intermetallic compounds formation in the weld zone had an influence on the failure mode.     

Relationship between base metal properties and friction stir welding process parameters

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process for joining aluminum alloys and has been employed in aerospace, rail, automotive and marine industries for joining aluminium, magnesium, zinc and copper alloys. In FSW, the base metal properties such as yield strength, ductility and hardness control the plastic flow of the material under the action of rotating non-consumable tool. The FSW process parameters such as tool rotational speed, welding speed, axial force, etc. play a major role in deciding the weld quality. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to establish relationship between the base material properties and FSW process parameters. FSW joints have been made using five different grades of aluminium alloys (AA1050, AA6061, AA2024, AA7039 and AA7075) using different combinations of process parameters. Macrostructural analysis has been done to check the weld quality (defective or defect free). Empirical relationships have been established between base metal properties and tool rotational speed and welding speed, respectively. The developed empirical relationships can be effectively used to predict the FSW process parameters to fabricate defect free welds.     

Establishing relationships between mechanical properties of aluminium alloys and optimised friction stir welding process parameters

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process for joining aluminium alloys and is employed in aerospace, rail, automotive and marine industries. In FSW, the base metal properties such as yield strength, hardness and ductility control the plastic flow of the material under the action of a rotating non-consumable tool. The FSW process parameters such as, the tool rotational speed, the welding speed and the axial force play a major role in deciding the weld quality. In this investigation, FSW joints were made using six different grades of aluminium alloys (AA1100, AA2219, AA2024, AA6061, AA7039, and AA7075) using different levels of process parameters. Macrostructural analysis was carried out to identify the feasible working range of process parameters. The optimal welding conditions to attain maximum strength for each alloy were identified using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Empirical relationships were established between the base metal mechanical properties of aluminium alloys and optimised FSW process parameters. These relationships can be effectively used to predict the optimised FSW process parameters from the known base metal properties (yield strength, elongation and hardness).     

Developments of mathematical models for prediction of tensile properties of dissimilar AA6061-T6 to Cu welds prepared by friction stir welding process using Zn interlayer

Amount of intermetallics formed at the weld interface in dissimilar friction stir welding may be reduced by use of suitable interlayer materials such as Zn. In the present investigation, mathematical models have been developed for prediction of tensile properties of dissimilar AA6061-T6 to pure Cu welds prepared by friction stir welding process with Zn interlayer. Experiments were planned as per Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology. Three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design with 15 runs was employed. Three process parameters: tool rotation speed (710, 1000 and 1400 rpm), tool travel speed (28, 56 and 80 mm/min) and tool pin offset (+0.5, +1.0 and +1.5 mm towards AA6061-T6 sheet) were considered. Lacks of fit for the developed models were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Validities of the developed models were checked by conducting confirmation runs. Predicted and experimental results of confirmation runs were found in reasonable agreements. Microstructural characterization revealed typical microstructure composed of intercalation of base metals. It was observed by X-ray diffraction analysis that use of Zn interlayer coupled with tool offset of +1.0 and +1.5 resulted in elimination of intermetallics of Al–Cu system at the weld interface, improving dissimilar weld quality.     

Effect of Traverse/Rotational Speed on Material Deformations and Temperature Distributions in Friction Stir Welding

A fully coupled thermo-mechanical model was developed to study the temperature fields and the plastic deformations of alloy AL6061-T6 under different process parameters during the friction stir welding （FSW） process. Three-dimensional results under different process parameters were presented. Results indicate that the maximum temperature is lower than the melting point of the welding material. The higher temperature gradient occurs in the leading side of the workpiece. The calculated temperature field can be fitted well with the one from the experimental test. A lower plastic strain region can be found near the welding tool in the trailing side on the bottom surface, which is formed by the specific material flow patterns in FSW. The maximum temperature can be increased with increasing the welding speed and the angular velocity in the current numerical modelling.     

Joint properties of dissimilar Al6061-T6 aluminum alloy/Ti–6%Al–4%V titanium alloy by gas tungsten arc welding assisted hybrid friction stir welding

Hybrid friction stir butt welding of Al6061-T6 aluminum alloy plate to Ti–6%Al–4%V titanium alloy plate with satisfactory acceptable joint strength was successfully achieved using preceding gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) preheating heat source of the Ti alloy plate surface. Hybrid friction stir welding (HFSW) joints were welded completely without any unwelded zone resulting from smooth material flow by equally distributed temperature both in Al alloy side and Ti alloy side using GTAW assistance for preheating the Ti alloy plate unlike friction stir welding (FSW) joints. The ultimate tensile strength was approximately 91% in HFSW welds by that of the Al alloy base metal, which was 24% higher than that of FSW welds without GTAW under same welding condition. Notably, it was found that elongation in HFSW welds increased significantly compared with that of FSW welds, which resulted in improved joint strength. The ductile fracture was the main fracture mode in tensile test of HFSW welds.     

Optimization of friction stir welding process parameters to maximize tensile strength of stir cast AA6061-T6/AlNp composite

Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) reinforced with particulate form of reinforcement has replaced monolithic alloys in many engineering industries due to its superior mechanical properties and tailorable thermal and electrical properties. As aluminium nitride (AlN) has high specific strength, high thermal conductivity, high electrical resistivity, low dielectric constant, low coefficient of thermal expansion and good compatibility with aluminium alloy, Al/AlN composite is extensively used in electronic packaging industries. Joining of AMCs is unavoidable in many engineering applications. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is one of the most suitable welding process to weld the AMCs reinforced with particulate form of ceramics without deteriorating its superior mechanical properties. An attempt has been made to develop regression models to predict the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) and Percent Elongation (PE) of the friction stir welded AA6061 matrix composite reinforced with aluminium nitride particles (AlN_p) by correlating the significant parameters such as tool rotational speed, welding speed, axial force and percentage of AlN_p reinforcement in the AA6061 matrix. Statistical software SYSTAT 12 and statistical tools such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student’s t test, have been used to validate the developed models. It was observed from the investigation that these factors independently influenced the UTS and PE of the friction stir welded composite joints. The developed regression models were optimized to maximize UTS of friction stir welded AA6061/AlN_p composite joints.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar Al alloy/steel joints prepared by a flat spot friction stir welding technique

The 6061-T6 Al alloy and mild steel plate with a thickness of 1 mm were successfully welded by the flat spot friction stir welding technique, which contains two steps during the entire welding process. The rotating tools with different probe lengths of 1.0, 1.3 and 1.5 mm were used in the first step, during which a conventional spot FSW was conducted above a round dent previously made on the back plate. However, sound Al/Fe welds with similar microstructure and mechanical properties can still be obtained after the second step, during which a probe-less rotating tool was used to flatten the weld surface. The sound welds have smooth surface without keyholes and other internal welding defects. No intermetallic compound layer but some areas with amorphous atomic configuration was formed along the Al/Fe joint interface due to the lower heat input. The shear tensile failure load can reach a maximum value of 3607 N and fracture through plug mode. The probe length has little effect on the weld properties, which indicates that the tool life can be significantly extended by this new spot welding technique.     

Effects of ultrasonic assisted friction stir welding on flow behavior,microstructure and mechanical properties of 7N01-T4 aluminum alloy joints

Conventional friction stir welding(FSW) and ultrasonic assisted friction stir welding(UAFSW) were employed to weld 6-mm thick 7 N01-T4 aluminum alloy plates. Weld forming characteristics and material flow behavior in these two different welding processes were studied and compared. Ultrasonic vibration was applied directly on the weld in axial direction through the welding tool. Metal flow behavior,microstructure characteristics in the nugget zone(NZ) and evolution of the mechanical properties of naturally aged joints were studied. Results show that the ultrasonic vibration can significantly increase the welding speed of defect-free welded joint. At the rotation speed of 1200 rpm, the UAFSW can produce defect-free welded joints at a welding speed that is 50% higher than that of the conventional FSW.Ultrasonic vibrations can also improve surface quality of the joints and reduce axial force by 9%. Moreover, ultrasonic vibrations significantly increase the volume of the pin-driven zone(PDZ) and decrease the thickness of the transition zone(TZ). The number of subgrains and deformed grains resulting from the UAFSW is higher than that from the FSW. By increase the strain level and strain gradient in the NZ,the ultrasonic vibrations can refine the grains. Ultrasonic energy is the most at the top of the NZ, and gradually reduces along the thickness of the plate. The difference in strengths between the FSW and the UAFSW joints after post-weld natural aging(PWNA) is small. However, the elongation of the UAFSW is8.8% higher than that of the FSW(PWNA for 4320 h). Fracture surface observation demonstrates that all the specimens fail by ductile fracture, and the fracture position of the UAFSW joint changes from HAZ(PWNA for 120 h) to NZ(PWNA for 720 and 4320 h).     

Prediction of hardness minimum locations during natural aging in an aluminum alloy 6061-T6 friction stir weld

This study describes a method that can predict the hardness minimum location as a function of natural aging time in a heat-treatable 6061-T6 Al alloy plate subjected to friction stir welding (FSW). First, temperature distributions were simulated in the FSW plate by finite element modeling. Second, to determine the natural aging kinetics, hardness changes were measured as a function of natural aging time from a number of Al specimens that had been isothermally heat treated at different peak temperatures. Finally, the simulated temperature profiles and the natural aging kinetics were correlated to predict the hardness profiles in the FSW plate. The predicted hardness minimum locations are consistent with the measured hardness profiles in that the hardness moves away from the weld centerline as the aging time increases. Moreover, the predicted hardness minimum is located at the similar position of failure in cross-weld tensile samples.     

TEM study of the FSW nugget in AA2195-T81

During friction stir welding (FSW) the material being joined is subjected to a thermal-mechanical process in which the temperature, strain and strain rates are not completely understood. To produce a defect free weld, process parameters for the weld and tool pin design must be chosen carefully. The ability to select the weld parameters based on the thermal processing requirements of the material, would allow optimization of mechanical properties in the weld region. In this study, an attempt is made to correlate the microstructure with the variation in thermal history the material experiences during the FSW process.     

Friction Stir Weldabilities of AA1050-H24 and AA6061-T6 Aluminum Alloys

The friction stir weldabilities of the strain-hardened AA1050-H24 and precipitate-hardened AA6061-T6 aluminum alloys were examined to reveal the effects of material properties on the friction stir welding behavior. The experimental results are obtlained. (1) For AA1050-H24, the weld can possess smoother surface ripples; there is no elliptical weld nugget in the weld; there is no discernible interface between the stir zone and the thermomechanically affected zone; and the internal defect of the weld looks like a long crack and is located in the lower part of the weld. (2) For AA6061-T6, the weld usually possesses slightly rougher surface ripples; an elliptical weld nugget clearly exists in the weld; there are discernible interfaces among the weld nugget, thermomechanically affected zone and heat affected zone; and the internal defect of the weld is similar to that of the AA1050-H24 weld. (3) The effective range of welding parameters for AA1050-H24 is narrow, while the one for AA6061-T6 is very wide. (4) T     

Effects of Tilt Angle on the Properties of Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding Copper to Aluminum

In the present investigation, dissimilar materials such as electrolytic tough pitch copper, and aluminum 6061-T651 were welded by friction stir welding technology. Effects of tool tilt angle on the mechanical and metallurgical properties were studied experimentally for dissimilar material systems. In the present study, the tool tilt angle was varied from 0° to 4° with an interval of 1°, while the other parameters such as rotational speed, welding speed, tool pin offset, and workpiece material position were kept constant. Macrostructure analysis, tensile test, macro hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectrographic tests were performed to evaluate the weld properties of dissimilar copper–aluminum joints. The results revealed that a defect free dissimilar copper–aluminum friction stir welding was achieved by tilt angles 2°, 3°, and 4°. The maximum tensile strength was reported to be 117 MPa and the macro hardness was reported to be 181 VH (in the nugget zone) at a tilt angle of 4°. The macro hardness was increased as the tilt angle increases from 0° to 4°. In addition to this, the thermo-mechanically affected zone (at the copper side) was found to be the weakest zone for a dissimilar copper–aluminum friction stir welding system.