Impact of tool profile on mechanical behavior and material flow in friction stir welding of dissimilar aluminum alloys

The tool pin geometry used in friction stir welding of any material affects the transportation and mixing of the materials at the joint interface during the welding process. This further affects the mechanical properties of the joint. Tapered threaded and unthreaded tool pin profiles were investigated in this research work. The relationship between the material mixing characteristics and mechanical properties of each pin profile were evaluated. The results indicate that more materials mixing occurred in the nugget zone of the welds at lower rotational speed with the threaded tool pin than the unthreaded tool pin. However, at medium rotational speed, more volume of materials was swept into each other better in the unthreaded tool pin than the threaded pin. The tensile strengths of welds with the threaded tool pin were higher than the unthreaded tool pin. Although the two tool pins exhibit similarities in hardness variations across the weld zones however, higher average values of hardness were obtained at the nugget zone for welds performed with the tapered threaded tool pin. These could be as a result of better material mixing and higher opposition to grain dislocations across the dividing lines in the welds from the threaded tool pin.     

Residual strains and microstructure development in single and sequential double sided friction stir welds in RQT-701 steel

Single and double sided partial penetration friction stir butt welds, in a rolled, quenched and tempered steel (RQT-701), were produced at The Welding Institute (TWI) under controlled process conditions. The residual strain distributions in the longitudinal and transverse directions have been measured using energy dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The measured strains were indicative of longitudinal tensile residual stresses at levels greater than the 0.2% yield stress of the parent metal in both the single and double pass welds. In both cases, the maximum tensile strain was found in the parent metal at the boundary of the heat affected zone (HAZ). Microstructural analysis of the welds was carried out using optical microscopy and hardness variations were also mapped across the weld-plate cross-section. The maximum hardness was observed in the mixed bainite/martensite structure of the weld nugget on the advancing side of the stir zone. The minimum hardness was observed in the HAZ.     

The microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded Al–Zn–Mg alloy in as welded and heat treated conditions

High strength aluminium alloys generally present low weldability because of the poor solidification microstructure, porosity in the fusion zone and loss in mechanical properties when welded by fusion welding processes which otherwise can be welded successfully by comparatively newly developed process called friction stir welding (FSW). This paper presents the effect of post weld heat treatment (T₆) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 7039 aluminium alloy. It was observed that the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) showed coarser grains than that of nugget zone but lower than that of heat affected zone (HAZ). The decrease in yield strength of welds is more serious than decrease in ultimate tensile strength. As welded joint has highest joint efficiency (92.1%). Post weld heat treatment lowers yield strength, ultimate tensile strength but improves percentage elongation.     

Correlation between precipitate microstructure and mechanical properties in AA7075‐T6 aluminum alloy friction stir welded joints

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA7075‐T6 aluminum alloy were examined. Grain structure and precipitate evolution in the stir zone and heat‐affected zone were evaluated using optical microscope and differential scanning calorimetry. A significant grain refinement and dissolution of η′ precipitates in the stir zone were found, but chromium‐bearing dispersoids remained nearly unchanged. The main particles in the stir zone and heat‐affected zone were η precipitates as well as Guinier‐Preston zones formed during post‐weld natural aging. The small recrystallized grains were observed in the thermo‐mechanically affected zone next to the stir zone. A W‐shaped hardness distribution where soft region was produced in the heat‐affected zone at a short distance from the stir zone were obtained. Hardness profiles of the welds were explained by precipitate distributions. Friction stir welding resulted in the reversion and coarsening of η′ precipitates. The formation of Guinier‐Preston zones in the stir zone and some parts of the heat‐affected zone during post‐weld natural aging increased the hardness. In transverse tensile specimens, fracture occurred in a location with the minimum hardness at either advancing or retreating side randomly. Further, influences of welding parameters on mechanical properties were investigated.     

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.     

A study on microstructures and residual stress distributions in dissimilar friction-stir welding of AA5086–AA6061

Dissimilar friction stir welds of aluminum alloys AA5086 in annealed and AA6061 in T6 temper conditions were investigated in terms of residual stress, grain structure and precipitation distribution in different zones of the welded joints. Optical metallography and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize microstructures of different zones of the welds. In addition, residual stress profile and local mechanical properties of different zones were evaluated employing X-ray diffraction method and digital image correlation technique. It was found that softening in the AA6061-T6 side occurs in regions with weld peak temperature higher than 300 °C. The micro-hardness profile results and TEM investigations also showed that thermo-mechanical affected zone of AA6061 side with large plate-shaped β precipitates is the softest region of the joints in AA6061 side. Furthermore, residual stress distribution within the samples is not directly dependent on the local mechanical properties of different zones of the joints.     

Microstructural Study and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar Friction Stir Welded AA5083-H111 and AA6082-T6 Reinforced with SiC Nanoparticles

Dissimilar friction stir welds were produced in 3 mm thick plates of AA6082-T6 and AA5083-H111 aluminum alloys using SiC as reinforcing material. The optimum weld presents a good distribution of nanoparticles in the weld nugget and mechanical mixing of the two alloys as well as further grain refinement compared to the one without nanoparticles. Higher hardness in the weld nugget is also evidenced, followed by enhanced ultimate tensile strength and elongation values. All specimens, after the tensile test, were lead to fracture at the heat affected zone of AA6082-T6 and specifically at the region of the lowest hardness.     

Influence of tool geometry and process parameters on macrostructure and static strength in friction stir spot welded polyethylene sheets

The effect of important welding parameters and tool properties that are effective on static strength in friction stir spot welds of polyethylene sheets were studied. Six different tool pin profiles (straight cylindrical, tapered cylindrical, threaded cylindrical, triangular, square and hexagonal) with different shoulder geometries, different pin length, pin angle and concavity angle were used to fabricate the joints. The tool rotational speed, tool plunge depth and dwell time were determined welding parameters. All the welding operations were done at the room temperature. Welding force and welding zone material temperature measurements were also done. Lap-shear tests were carried out to find the weld static strength. Weld cross section appearance observations were also done. From the experiments, the effect of pin profile, pin length, pin angle, dwell time and tool rotational speed on friction stir spot welding formation and weld strength was determined.     

Effect of material inhomogeneity on fracture modes in aluminium–steel resistance spot welds

Resistance spot welding (RSW) is attractive for joining dissimilar materials, especially, aluminium to steel in automotive body. The direct joining of aluminium to steel forms an intermetallic compound (IMC) layer at their interface that dominates mechanical behaviour of the joint. A new formula was developed that considers material inhomogeneities such as the different mechanical properties in the weld such as base metal, heat affected zone (HAZ) and the weld nugget to accurately calculate the minimum weld nugget diameter required to enable pull‐out fracture. The shear strengths of weld regions such as the HAZ and IMC were directly measured and used as inputs to this new formula. The new formula was validated using experimental measurements from six combinations of aluminium–steel welds in comparison with analogous aluminium–aluminium welds. The new derivation was able to accurately predict fracture modes for all material combinations.     

Friction stir lap welded advanced high strength steels: Microstructure and mechanical properties

Friction stir welding was carried out under different heat input and cooling rates to produce lap joints between high strength martensitic steel sheets. The microstructure of the welds was characterized, and microhardness was evaluated. Joint efficiency was determined by lap shear test. Variation in processing conditions governed total heat input, peak temperature and cooling rate during friction stir welding. Weld nugget microstructure depended principally on cooling rate. The slowest cooling rate promoted ferrite-pearlite and the fastest cooling rate resulted in martensite formation in the weld nugget. The weakest region of all the joints was the heat affected zone, which consists of ferrite with small quantities of pearlite. Fracture during shear testing occurred along the heat affected zone of welded joints. The width and grain size of ferrite in heat affected zone controlled the joint efficiency.     

Identification of the pin offset effect on the friction stir welding (FSW) via Taguchi – Grey relational analysis: A Case study for AA 7075 – AA 6013 alloys

The aim of this work is to present a case study relating to the dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) ability of AA 7075‐T651 and AA 6013‐T6 by applying pin offset technique. An orthogonal array L18 was conducted to perform the overlapped weld seams using three different values of pin offset, welding speed and tool rotational speed along with two different pin profiles determine the impact of welding parameters on the tensile properties of friction stir welded joints. The nugget zone for each of overlapped weld seams exhibited a complex structure and also, the pin offset and profile also were found to have a great impact on the microstructural evolution of the nugget zone. The ultimate tensile strength, elongation at the rapture and bending strength of welded joints were measured in the ranges of 194–215 MPa, 1.79–3.34 % and 203–352 MPa. From the Taguchi based Grey relational analysis, the optimum welding condition was determined for the welded joint performed using a single fluted pin profile with the zero pin offset, tool rotational speed of 630 min^?1 and welding speed of 63 mm/min. Microstructural and macro‐structural observations revealed that welded joints exhibiting lower tensile strength are consistent of various types of defects (e. g. cracks, tunnels and cavities). The fracture location of welded joints was found to be on the heat affected zone and between the heat affected zone and AA 6013‐base metal. The tool and pin wear was not observed during the welding applications     

Residual stress distribution and microstructure in the friction stir weld of 7075 aluminum alloy

In order to study the relationship between residual stress (RS) and the microstructure of friction stir weld (FSW), RS profiles through thickness in the un-welded aluminum alloy 7075 plate and in middle layer of its FSW joint were determined nondestructively by the short-wavelength X-ray diffraction (SWXRD) and neutron diffraction. Microstructure and mechanical properties of the FSW joint were also studied by optical microscopic analysis, and microhardness and tensile strength measurements. RS profiles measured by the two methods had the same distribution trend. The maximum tensile RS tested by SWXRD and neutron diffraction in transverse and longitudinal direction occurred in the weld nugget. Microhardness in the direction perpendicular to the weld line showed a “W” shape distribution. Position of the local maximal extremum of RS in thermo-mechanically affected zone corresponded to that of minimal microhardness. The grain-refined strengthening caused by the recrystallization in the weld nugget kept the joint from fracturing at this region notwithstanding the maximum tensile RS. And the tensile fracture occurred near the boundary of welding zone and thermo-mechanically affected zone where minimum of hardness and maximum of RS appear at the same position.     

Hybrid multi-response optimization of friction stir spot welds: failure load,effective bonded size and flash volume as responses

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a multi-input multi-response process. Effective multi-response optimization of welds is desirable to create welds with a balance of quality responses. In order to eliminate the subjectivity (uncertainty and engineering judgment) with the existing multi-response Taguchi-based Grey relational analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) was integrated into it. The PCA helps in determining the effective optimal weighting values required for the estimation of Grey relational grade (GRG). As a result, tool rotational speed, plunge depth and dwell time were employed as input parameters while failure load (FL), expelled flash volume (EFV) and effective bonded size (EBS) of conical pin friction stir spot-welded joint of AA2219-O alloy were the chosen output responses. EFV was minimized while FL and EBS of the joints were maximized using this hybrid multi-response approach. From the analysis of variance of GRG and its response graphs, the significant parameters and their levels were obtained. Experimental results confirmed the effectiveness and robustness of this method. In addition, three critical zones were observed on the fracture surfaces of joints, namely, tool impelled unbonded zone, partially bonded zone and effective bonded/nugget zone. The weld nugget failed by circumferential nugget shear mode.     

Influence of tool pin profile on the metallurgical and mechanical properties of friction stir welded Al–10 wt.% TiB2 metal matrix composite

In the present work, Al–10 wt.% TiB₂ metal matrix composites (MMCs) are joined using friction stir welding (FSW) process. Different tool pin profiles are developed to weld the MMCs and the effect of tool pin profile on metallurgical and mechanical properties of the weldments are studied. The stirred zones of MMCs joined with taper pin profiles are narrower than that are joined with straight pin profiles. Weld nugget has finer grains compared to other weld zones and TiB₂ particulates are homogeneously present in Al matrix both in weld and parent metal. The effect of pin profiles on mechanical properties are analyzed and it is found that joints welded with straight square pin profile have better mechanical properties compared to the other pin profiles.     

Influences of Friction Stir Welding and Post‐Weld Heat Treatment on Al–Cu–Li Alloy

In this paper, the influences of friction stir welding (FSW) and post‐weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the microstructures and tensile properties of Al–Cu–Li alloy are investigated. After FSW, strengthen loss occurred in the welding area. Remarkable softening occurs in the thermo‐mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) resulting from dissolution of Al₃Li (δ′) phases. Recrystallization and precipitation of ultra‐fine δ′ phases take place in the nugget zone (NZ) that lightens the softening degree of this zone. A noteworthy enhancement in the hardness and tensile strength of the joint is achieved after T8 re­aging treatment (3% ? pre‐deformation, 30 h at 152 °C). However, re‐solution treatment coupled with re‐aging treatment leads to ductility deterioration in the joint because coplanar slip of coarse Al₃Li phases induces severe stress concentration during plastic deformation.

     

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.     

Comparative study on local and global mechanical properties of 2024 T351, 2024 T6 and 5251 O friction stir welds

The effect of the microstructure heterogeneity on the global and local tensile properties of friction stir welded joints in 5251 (O temper) and AA2024 (T351 and T6 tempers) aluminium alloys has been investigated. Micro-tensile tests parallel to the welding direction have been carried out in the regions representative of the main microstructural zones. The digital image correlation technique (DIC) has been used during transverse tensile tests for mapping the strain distribution and to determine the local stress–strain curves. A 3-D finite elements model has been developed to predict the weld behaviour from the tensile curves of the individual regions of the weld.The tensile properties of the 5251 O weld are relatively homogeneous leading to high ductility and fracture in the base material. In contrast, the tensile properties of the various regions of the 2024 T351 and 2024 T6 welds are very heterogeneous and essentially controlled by the state of precipitation. The thermo-mechanically affected zone is the weakest region where the strain localises during a transverse tensile test. The 2024 T6 base material is stronger than the 2024 T351 alloy, leading to a more pronounced strain localisation during transverse tensile tests and a lower overall ductility. Local tensile data obtained by strain mapping are in good agreement with the curves obtained by micro-tensile tests, and these results can be safely used in a finite elements model to predict the behaviour of the overall weld assembly.     

On the role of pin geometry in microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7075/SiC nano-composite fabricated by friction stir welding technique

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of pin geometry on the macrostructure, microstructure and mechanical properties of the friction stir welds, reinforced with SiC nano-particles. Toward this end, friction stir welding (FSW) conducted using five geometrically different pin tools. Other welding parameters were remained unchanged. Microstructural evaluation using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a banded structure consisting of particle-rich and particle-free regions in stir zone (SZ). The most uniform particle distribution was found in the case of using threaded tapered pin tool. On the other hand, it was discovered that the reinforcements had severely accumulated in the SZ of specimen friction stir welded (FSWed) with four-flute cylindrical pin tool. Moreover, threaded tapered and four-flute cylindrical specimens showed the highest and the lowest microhardness, respectively. In spite of four-flute cylindrical specimen, other specimens failed in base metal during tensile testing. Besides, the highest ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was recorded for the specimen FSWed with triangular pin tool. Fracture surface of tensile specimens were also studied employing SEM technique.     

Evolution of grain structure across joints in friction stir welded EN AW 5083 H111 plates during thermal exposure

Abstract

The mechanisms involved in the coarsening of the grain structure across FSW joints produced in EN AW 5083 H111 plates with different pin profiles were investigated. The grain coarsening across the FSW joints invariably starts inside the shoulder flow zones and involves both abnormal growth of the grains inside the dynamically recrystallised regions as well as recrystallisation of the deformed grains outside these regions. The elliptical nugget zones produced with the threaded circular pins appear to be more stable with respect to the basin shaped counterparts obtained with the triangular pin. It takes an annealing temperature of 550°C for the former to become fully coarse grained across the joint while the joint produced with the triangular pin is largely covered with coarse grains starting at 500°C. The higher resistance of the nugget zone obtained with a threaded circular pin to grain coarsening appears to be critical in the selection of the pin profiles when the manufacturing cycle of the welded EN AW 5083 plates involves post-welding heat treatments.     

Microstructure and XRD analysis of FSW joints for copper T2/aluminium 5A06 dissimilar materials

Copper (T2) and aluminium alloy (5A06) were welded by friction stir welding (FSW). The microstructure, mechanical properties and phase constituents of FSW joints were studied by metallography, tensile testing machine and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the high quality weld joint could be obtained when tool rotational speed is 950 rpm, and travel speed is 150 mm/min. The maximum value of tensile strength is about 296 MPa. The metal Cu and Al close to copper side in the weld nugget (WN) zone showed a lamellar alternating structure characteristic. However, a mixed structure characteristic of Cu and Al existed in the aluminium side of weld nugget (WN) zone. There were no new Cu-Al intermetallic compounds in the weld nugget zone.