Natural aging in friction stir welded 7136-T76 aluminum alloy

The long term natural aging behavior of friction stir welded aluminum 7136-T76 extrusions was investigated. The microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties in the as-welded, three years naturally aged and six years naturally aged conditions were studied and correlated to a coupled thermal/material flow model of the joining process. Hardness profiles taken along the mid-plane thickness of the workpiece displayed the characteristic W-shape typical to friction stir welded aluminum alloys. In the as-welded condition, however, the profile was skewed to the advancing side, such that the advancing side hardness was lower than that on the retreating side. With natural aging, hardness recovery occurred on both sides of the weld, but the position of the hardness minima, particularly on the advancing side, shifted away from the weld centerline. The numerical simulation demonstrated that the temperature profile is also skewed to the advancing side with greater processing temperatures occurring on this side of the weld. When compared to the dissolution temperature of the equilibrium phases, the extent of dissolution was greater on the advancing side and occurred to a greater distance from the centerline than on the retreating side. The hardness behavior upon natural aging, therefore, correlated to the temperature profile developed during welding and the degree to which phase dissolution occurred in the regions adjacent to the stir zone.     

Fatigue behaviour of Al2024-T3 friction stir welded lap joints

The aim of this work is the characterization of the fatigue behaviour of AA2024-T3 friction stir welded overlap joints produced at German Aerospace Center (DLR) of Cologne (D). In these joints, two crack-like unwelded zones are present at overlap ends. The stress intensity factor at the crack tip and the fatigue crack path have been studied using the FE code Franc2d and the lifetime has been estimated by integrating the material propagation law with the software AFgrow, in which the stress intensity factor calculated with Franc2d was introduced. The numerical results predict lifetimes shorter than the experiments. This fact is attributed to an initial propagation in shear mode for a short distance, which was indeed observed with an optical microscope and it is predicted by mixed mode “failure mechanism map”.     

Nanomechanical properties of friction stir welded AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy

Lightweight alloys are of major concern, due to their functionality and applications in transport and industry applications. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process for joining aluminum and other metallic alloys and has been employed in aerospace, rail, automotive and marine industries. Compared to the conventional welding techniques, FSW produces joints which do not exhibit defects caused by melting. The objective of the present study is to investigate the surface hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) in friction stir welded aluminum alloy AA6082-T6. The findings of the present study reveal that the welding process softens the material, since the weld nugget is the region where the most deformations are recorded (dynamic recrystallization, production of an extremely fine, equiaxial structure), confirmed by optical microscopy and reduced nanomechanical properties in the welding zone. A yield-type pop-in occurs upon low loading and represents the start of phase transformation, which is monitored through a gradual slope change of the load-displacement curve. Significant pile-up is recorded during nanoindentation of the alloy through SPM imaging.     

Numerical simulation of fatigue crack propagation in friction stir welded joint made of Al 2024-T351 alloy

In this work, fatigue crack propagation in thin-walled aluminium alloy structure with two friction stir welded T joints has been simulated numerically. Crack propagation in stiffened part of the structure between two friction stir welded T joints is analysed by using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM), including software ABAQUS, as well as MORFEO, for modelling and results display. Tensile fatigue loading is applied, with stress ratio R = 0, and maximum stress σ_max = 10 MPa. Material properties (Al 2024-T351, as used in aeronautical industry) in different welded joints zones are adopted from available literature data. Following results are obtained by numerical analysis: stress–strain and displacement state in the structure, position of the crack tip and value of stress intensity factor for every crack propagation step, as well as the structural life estimation, i.e. number of load cycles, N, also for each crack propagation step. Using these results the number of cycles at which the crack starts to propagate in an unstable manner is predicted.     

Tensile behavior of friction stir welded AA 6061-T4 aluminum alloy joints

In this investigation response surface methodology based on a central composite rotatable design with three parameters, five levels and 20 runs, was used to develop a mathematical model predicting the tensile properties of friction stir welded AA 6061-T4 aluminum alloy joints at 95% confidence level. The three welding parameters considered were tool rotational speed, welding speed and axial force. Analysis of variance was applied to validate the predicted model. Microstructural characterization and fractography of joints were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes. Also, the effects of the welding parameters on tensile properties of friction stir welded joints were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the optimum parameters to get a maximum of tensile strength were 920 rev/min, 78 mm/min and 7.2 kN, where the maximum of tensile elongation was obtained at 1300 rev/min, 60 mm/min and 8 kN.     

Fatigue performance of friction stir welded Al2024 alloy in a different corrosive environment

The study examines the corrosion fatigue behavior of friction stir welded Al2024 alloy in the corrosive medium. The fatigue tests are conducted at a stress ratio of -1 in the different corrosive medium. The decrease in the fatigue life of welded joints in the corrosive environment is attributed to an increase in the crack initiation susceptibility in the presence of corrosive media. The fractured surfaces are investigated using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of the corrosive compounds was studied using x-ray diffractometry.     

Evaluation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 6005 aluminum alloy

Abstract

The microstructural change related with the hardness profile has been evaluated for friction stir welded, age hardenable 6005 Al alloy. Frictional heat and plastic flow during friction stir welding created fine and equiaxed grains in the stir zone (SZ), and elongated and recovered grains in the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). The heat affected zone (HAZ), identified only by the hardness result because there is no difference in grain structure compared to the base metal, was formed beside the weld zone. A softened region was formed near the weld zone during the friction stir welding process. The softened region was characterised by the dissolution and coarsening of the strengthening precipitate during friction stir welding. Sound joints in 6005 Al alloys were successfully formed under a wide range of friction stir welding conditions. The maximum tensile strength, obtained at 507 mm min^-1 welding speed and 1600 rev min^-1 tool rotation speed, was 220 MPa, which was 85% of the strength of the base metal.     

Fatigue crack propagation behavior of friction stir welded 5083-H32 Al alloy

Fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behavior of friction stir welded (FSWed) 5083-H32 Al alloy was examined with the fatigue crack growing either along the dynamically recrystallized zone (DXZ) at variable ΔK or perpendicular to the DXZ at a constant ΔK value of 10, 13, 15, and 17 MPa√m, respectively. The FCP behavior of FSWed 5083-H32 specimen is substantially influenced by the presence of FSW zone, the trend of which is discussed based on residual stress measurement and fractographic observation.     

Evolution of microstructure and mechanical characteristics of friction stir welded ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy 6082

Bulk production of ultrafine-grained material is in great demand presently. Ultrafine-grained material can be synthesized using accumulative roll bonding, which is a prominent severe plastic deformation technique to develop such materials in bulk. There are further challenges in the fabrication of ultrafine-grained material. Friction stir welding is a potential technique to join the ultrafine-grained material while maintaining its mechanical and microstructural characteristics stability as no fusion is required. The present research work demonstrates the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of various welding zone after friction stir welding of ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy 6082. The microstructural features were examined using optical microscopy and the electron back-scattered diffraction technique. The variation in mechanical characteristics was observed using tensile and microhardness tests. The fractography of tensile specimens was studied to identify the mode of failure. The present study demonstrates the viability of friction stir welding to join ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy 6082 developed by accumulative roll bonding. The ultrafine grain size of 0.52 μm was achieved after four accumulative roll bonding cycles. The microhardness of accumulative roll bonding processed samples and the tensile strength of the weld joint were increased about two times and 1.6 times respectively compared to the annealed sample.     

2024铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头塑性变形行为研究

为了研究搅拌摩擦焊卷焊管坯的力学性能及接头塑性变形行为,以5 mm厚的2024退火态铝合金搅拌摩擦焊板坯为对象,采用网格法测试接头塑性变形分布,用EBSD测量接头各区域晶粒尺寸及位相,并结合SEM观察接头第二相的分布,研究了接头力学性能、应变分布与微观组织之间的关系.研究表明:搅拌摩擦接头强度与母材等强,延伸率下降44%;接头前进侧距离焊缝中心8～17 mm的母材较早出现了应变的集中,局部应变可达23%,而焊核区和接头返回侧母材发生的变形较小,平均应变分别为3%和11%,各区域应变的不均匀主要是由于接头各区晶粒尺寸及位相的差异造成的,导致接头整体延伸率的下降.     

Microstructure and failure mechanisms of refill friction stir spot welded 7075-T6 aluminum alloy joints

In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy joints joined by refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) were investigated. The keyhole was refilled successfully, and the microstructure of the weld exhibited variations in the grain sizes in the width and the thickness directions. There existed defects (hook, voids, bonding ligament, etc.) associated to the material flow in the weld. Mechanical properties of the joint have been investigated in terms of hardness and tensile/shear and cross-tension test, and the fracture mechanisms were observed by SEM (scanning electron microscope). The hardness profile of the weld exhibited a W-shaped appearance in the macroscopic level, which reached the minimum at the boundary of the sleeve and the clamping ring. The variation laws between tensile/shear and cross-tension strength and processing parameters were rather complicated. The void in the weld played an important role in determining the strength of the joint. On the whole, the preferable strength can be obtained at lower rotational speed. Shear fracture mode was observed under tensile–shear loadings, and nugget debonding, plug type fracture (on the upper sheet) and plug type fracture (on the lower sheet) modes were observed under cross-tension loadings. It was also observed that the main feature affecting the mechanical properties of the joint is the alclad between the upper and lower sheets and the connecting qualities between the stir zone and thermo-mechanically affected zone.     

Microstructural aspects and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA2024-T3 aluminium alloy sheet

In the present work, aluminium alloy AA2024-T3 thin sheets were joined by the Friction Stir Welding – FSW – process. Butt joints were obtained in 1.6 mm sheets, using an advancing speed of 700 mm/min. These joints were characterised by optical, scanning electron microscopy, tensile and fatigue mechanical tests. The results showed that the resulting microstructure is free of defects and the tensile strength of the welded joints is up to 98% of the base-metal strength. Fatigue tests result indicates an equivalent stress intensity factor (kt) of approximately 2.0 for the welded samples. Consequently, the FSW process can be advantageous compared to conventional riveting for airframe applications.     

Effect of heat treatment on tensile properties of friction stir welded joints of 2219-T6 aluminium alloy

Abstract

The effect of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the tensile properties of friction stir welded (FSW) joints of 2219-T6 aluminium alloy was investigated. The PWHT was carried out at aging temperature of 165°C for 18 h. The mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated using tensile tests. The experimental results indicate that the PWHT significantly influences the tensile properties of the FSW joints. After the heat treatment, the tensile strength of the joints increases and the elongation at fracture of the joints decreases. The maximum tensile strength of the joints is equivalent to 89% of that of the base material. The fracture location characteristics of the heat treated joints are similar to those of the as welded joints. The defect free joints fracture in the heat affected zone on the retreating side and the joints with a void defect fracture in the weld zone on the advancing side. All of the experimental results can be explained by the hardness profiles and welding defects in the joints.     

Effect of friction stir welding on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA 6063-T6 aluminum alloy

In this study, AA 6063-T6 alloy plates were joined via friction stir welding using three different pin geometries (i. e., helical threaded, pentagonal and triangular) under various process parameters of tool rotational speed and welding speed. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the various welded joints were investigated. Macro-structural observations revealed that kissing bonds occurred in the welded joints due to fractured oxide layers. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the stir zones of the welded joints exhibited phases of Al₈Fe₂Si, Al₅FeSi, and Mg₂Si. In the welded joints, processed using a helical threaded pin, no tunnel-type defect was detected to occur; specimens were fractured outside of the joint region during tensile tests, indicating that the kissing bonds formed in the stir zones did not cause any deterioration in tensile strength or ductility. The welded joints processed using a helical threaded, pentagonal and triangular pin at 500 min⁻¹ tool rotational speed and 80 mm min⁻¹ welding speed exhibited a ductile deformation behavior along with a tensile strength in the range of 153 MPa to 155 MPa.     

Effect of self-support friction stir welding on microstructure and microhardness of 6082-T6 aluminum alloy joint

In this paper, 5-mm-thick 6082-T6 aluminum alloy was joined by means of self-support friction stir welding (SSFSW). Here we report the grain structure and second phase particles in various regions including the welding nugget zone (WNZ), thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and heat affected zone (HAZ). In the upper part of the joint, microhardness in the TMAZ in proximity of the UWNZ was the highest (average 89.4 HV) due to the severe plastic deformation. The similar result was also found in the lower part of the SSFSW joint. The microstructural development in each region was a strong function of the local thermo-mechanical cycle experienced during welding. Some coarse equiaxed grains which were produced in incomplete dynamic recrystallization process and dissolution of some precipitates have been observed in TMAZ. The HAZ retained the same grain structure as the base material, however, the grain size decreased with increasing distance of the weld centerline.     

Galvanic and asymmetry effects on the local electrochemical behavior of the 2098-T351 alloy welded by friction stir welding

Scanning electrochemical microscopy(SECM) and scanning vibrating electrode technique(SVET) were used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of the top surface of the 2098-T351 alloy welded by friction stir welding(FSW). The SVET technique was efficient in identifying the cathodic and anodic weld regions. The welding joint(WJ), which comprises the thermomechanically affected zone(TMAZ) and the stir zone(SZ), was cathodic relative to the heated affected zone(HAZ) and the base metal(BM). The reactivities of the welding joint at the advancing side(AS) and the retreating side(RS) were analyzed and compared using SECM technique in the competition mode by monitoring the dissolved oxygen as a redox mediator in 0.005 mol L~(-1) NaCl solution. The RS was more electrochemically active than the AS,and these results were correlated with the microstructural features of the welded alloy.     

Mechanical properties and microstructure of friction stir welded tailor-made blanks

This paper studies the microstructural features and mechanical properties of friction stir welds with dissimilar alloys and different thicknesses. The welds are produced in five different thickness/material combinations from 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 sheets with different thicknesses. A parametric study is conducted to optimize the welding parameters such that the different configurations can be compared. The paper is divided into two chapters: microstructural features and mechanical properties. In the first chapter, a study of the chemical composition and microstructure of the welds shows that a narrow chemical mixing zone is present in the dissimilar-alloy welds and that the stirring zone embodies the union rings and exhibits heterogeneous texture for most configurations. Study of the hardness, tensile properties and fracture surfaces in the second chapter shows that an asymmetric softened region, which is harder at the advancing side and extends more into the retreating side, is formed in the stirring zone and that the mechanical properties decrease as the thickness ratio increases. The fracture was partially ductile and partially brittle for all configurations.     

Effect of welding parameters on the strain rate and microstructure of friction stir spot welded 2024 aluminum alloy

The stir zone microstructure, crystallographic texture, temperature and strain rate in the stir zones produced during Al 2024 spot welding using different tool rotational speed settings are investigated. The calculated strain rate during spot welding decreases from 1600 to 0.6 s⁻¹ when the tool rotational speed increases from 750 to 3000 rpm. The low strain rate values are associated with tool slippage resulting from spontaneous melting of S phase particles at temperatures ≥490 °C. However, the calculated strain rate is 1600 s⁻¹ in Al 2024 spot welds made using tool rotational speed of 750 rpm since the temperature never reaches 490 °C. Material transfers downwards via that pin thread during the dwell period in Al 2024 spot welding. It is proposed that this downward transfer of material provides a continuous supply of undissolved S phase particles, which melt spontaneously when the welding parameter settings produce stir zone temperatures ≥490 °C. A weak crystallographic texture where the {100} planes are oriented at about 45° to the θ-direction exists in the stir zones of spot welds made using different tool rotational speeds (from 750 to 3000 rpm). Another crystallographic texture where the {100} planes are parallel to the Z-direction (to the tool axis) is stronger in spot welds made using higher tool rotational speed settings. Also, material located at the root of the pin thread has a quite different crystallographic texture from that in the bulk of the stir zone.     

Effect of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir spot welded 5052 aluminum alloy

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a newly-developed solid state joining technology. In this study, two types of FSSW, normal FSSW and walking FSSW, are applied to join the 5052-H112 aluminum alloy sheets with 1 mm thickness and then the effect of the rotational speed and dwell time on microstructure and mechanical properties is discussed. The lower sheet material underneath the hook didn’t flow into the upper sheet due to the concave surface in the shoulder and groove in the anvil. The hardness profile of the welds exhibited a W-shaped appearance and the minimum hardness was measured in the HAZ. The results of tensile/shear tests and cross-tension tests indicate that the joint strength decreases with increasing rotational speed, while it’s not affected significantly by dwell time. At the rotational speed of 1541 rpm, the tensile/shear strength and cross-tension strength reached the maximum of 2847.7 N and 902.1 N corresponding to the dwell time of 5 s and 15 s. Two different fracture modes were observed under both tensile/shear and cross-tension loadings: shear fracture and tensile/shear mixed fracture under tensile/shear loadings, and nugget debonding and pull-out under cross-tension loadings. The performance of the welds plays a predominant role in determining the type of fracture modes. In addition, the adoption of walking FSSW brings unremarkable improvements in weld strength.     

Effect of post-weld natural aging on mechanical and microstructural properties of friction stir welded 6063-T4 aluminium alloy

Influence of natural aging on mechanical and microstructural properties of friction stir welded 6063-T4 aluminium alloy plates was investigated through mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction studies, and transmission electron microscopy, for aging times up to 8640 h. Mg–Si co-clusters formed during the natural aging process resulted in an increase in strength, decrease in ductility, and occurrence of serrated plastic flow. Hardness increase from aging was fastest in welds obtained at higher tool rotational speeds due to greater amount of “quenched-in” vacancies from higher peak stir zone temperatures. Peak broadening analyses and classical Williamson–Hall plots were used to investigate the effect of friction stir welding and post weld natural aging on microstrain in different weld regions. Higher microstrain was found in stir zone as well as heat affected zone as compared to that for base metal, albeit for different reasons.