Impact of tool wear on joint strength in friction stir spot welding of DP 980 steel

Abstract

Friction stir spot welding has been shown to be a viable method of joining ultra high strength steel, both in terms of joint strength and process cycle time. However, the cost of tooling must be reasonable in order for this method to be adopted as an industrial process. Recently a new tool alloy has been developed, using a blend of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) and tungsten rhenium (W–Re) in order to improve the toughness of the tool. Wear testing results are presented for two of these alloys: one with a composition of 60% PCBN and 40% W–Re, and one with 70% PCBN and 30% W–Re. The sheet material used for all wear testing was 1·4 mm DP 980. Lap shear testing was used to show the relationship between tool wear and joint strength. The Q70 tool provided the best combination of wear resistance and joint strength.     

Mechanical characterization of friction stir spot microwelds

Microstructures and failure mechanisms of friction stir spot microwelds in 300-μm thin sheet of aluminum 1050 alloy were investigated. As an alternative to conventional soldering and welding in joining thin metals for electronic, medical and microdevices, friction stir welding may be utilized in order to limit the excessive heat damage. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs of the cross sections of friction stir spot microwelds in lap-shear specimens were examined. These microwelds showed the failure mode of nugget pullout under lap-shear loading conditions. The experimental observations suggested that under lap-shear loading conditions, the failure was initiated near the possible original notch tip in the stir zone and the failure propagated along the circumference of the nugget to final fracture. Microindentation hardness data of base metal, heat affected zone, thermal-mechanical affected zone and stir zone were obtained. The interface between the heat affected zone and the thermal-mechanical affected zone was the softest region, where the cracks of friction stir spot microwelds in the lap-shear specimens under the loadings initiated and leaded to fracture of the specimens.     

Static shear strength and fatigue life of refill friction stir spot welded AA 6061-T6 sheets

This study was aimed at evaluating the static shear strength and fatigue properties of the newly developed refilled friction stir spot welded AA 6061-T6 joints. The keyhole, the process disadvantage of conventional friction stir spot welding, was refilled successfully, using an additional filler plate, with specially designed tools. Two different tool profiles, namely, convex and concave, were used for the refilling process. Sound and defect free joints were obtained by the refilling process. Joints refilled with convex tools showed better static shear strength than those with the concave ones. The variation of microhardness in different regions of the weld was analysed. Fatigue tests were conducted on the lap shear specimens at a stress ratio of R?=?0·1. The optical micrographs of the welds after fatigue failure in both the conventional and refilled processes were examined to study the fatigue crack propagation and failure modes.     

Influence of Zn coating on friction stir spot welded magnesium-aluminium joint

For friction stir spot welded (FSSW) magnesium–aluminium joints, the formation of Mg–Al intermetallics in the hook region and cracking at the interface damaged seriously the strength of Mg–Al joints, resulting in lower joint load of only 0.8?±?0.2?kN. When adding the hot-dipped Zn coating on the Al substrate surface prior to FSSW, a brazed layer, composed of Mg–Zn and Al–Zn diffusion zones at the edge of the shoulder, and a transition layer, composed of MgZn₂, Zn-rich zone and residual Zn in the hook region, were formed in the FSSW Mg–Al joint, eliminating the cracking and Mg–Al intermetallics in the FSSW joint without the Zn coating. The load of the joint with the Zn coating increased to 3.7?±?0.3?kN.     

Effect of tool design and process parameters on properties of Al alloy 6016 friction stir spot welds

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) of Al alloy 6016-T4 sheet was evaluated using a conventional pin (CP) tool and off-center feature (OC) tool. Tool rotation speed and plunge depth were varied to determine the effect of individual process parameter on lap-shear separation load. Maximum separation load of about 3.3 kN was obtained by using a 0.2 mm shoulder penetration depth with 1500 rpm tool rotation speed for the CP tool and 2500 rpm for the OC tool. Three different weld separation modes under lap-shear loading were observed: interfacial separation, nugget fracture separation and upper sheet fracture separation. Microhardness profile for weld cross section indicated no direct relationship between microhardness distribution and separation locations.     

Al-Mg合金填充式搅拌摩擦点焊性能

为了确定Al-Mg铝合金填充式搅拌摩擦点焊性能,以Al-Mg铝合金中2 mm的5A06为研究对象,对填充式搅拌摩擦点焊接头进行了剪切拉伸、十字形拉伸、显微组织和疲劳性能等测试,并建立了焊点组织区模型.结果表明,接头显微组织可以分为焊核区、热影响区、热力影响区和母材区部分;旋转频率为2000 r/min时,剪切载荷均值7865 MPa,十字形拉伸载荷均值3480 N;通过SEM和OM分析,点焊接头疲劳裂纹均起始于上下板结合面的焊点边缘,该区域的环沟槽、孔洞及包铝层等缺陷和应力集中是造成疲劳破坏的主要原因.     

CDRX modelling in friction stir welding of aluminium alloys

In the paper a numerical model aimed to the determination of the average grain size due to continuous dynamic recrystallization phenomena (CDRX) in friction stir welding processes of AA6082 T6 aluminum alloys is presented. In particular, the utilized model takes into account the local effects of strain, strain rate and temperature; an inverse identification approach, based on a linear regression procedure, is utilized in order to develop the proper material characterization.     

Analysis of effect of tool geometry on plastic flow during friction stir spot welding using particle method

The effect of tool geometry on the plastic flow and material mixing during friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is investigated using the particle method approach. For spot welds made with a cylindrical pin tool with flat shoulder, the model predicts the material flow at the pin periphery to be in the upward direction and the material is pushed downward beneath the shoulder giving rise to the resultant hook geometry. Other pin geometries evaluated include tapered pin, inverse tapered pin, triangular pin, convex shoulder, and concave shoulder. With good correlation with experimental trials, this model is then used to predict the material flow for spot welds. The material flow, and thereby the resultant hook formation, is quantified using numerical methods and is expressed as standard deviation of the particle movement. A triangular pin with a concave shoulder is the preferred tool geometry from the current study that results in high strength spot welds.     

Microstructure,static and fatigue properties of refill friction stir spot welded 7075-T6 aluminium alloy using a modified tool

ABSTRACT

Defect-free joints were produced in 2.0?mm thick 7075-T6 Al alloy by refill friction stir spot welding using a modified tool. Weld performance was evaluated in terms of microstructure, interfacial bonding, hardness, static and fatigue strength based on the experimental observations. The results indicated that grain size, interfacial bonding quality and lap shear strength significantly depend on sleeve penetration depth (SPD), with sufficient interfacial bonding and stable lap shear strength achieved when SPD?≥?1.8?mm. The SPD and applied load played a dominant role in determining the static lap shear and fatigue failure mechanisms, respectively. More precisely, the lap shear failure mode was an interfacial failure when SPD?≤?1.8?mm, and nugget pullout when SPD?≥?2.0?mm. The fatigue fracture mode involved nugget pullout under high applied load, while fracture through the parent sheet occurs under medium and lower applied loads.     

Interface shape and microstructure controlled dissimilar friction stir lap welded steels

Abstract

When fusion welding is conducted on the dissimilar materials between a reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H steel and an austenite stainless steel SUS 316 steel, δ ferrite is generally formed and inevitably deteriorates the weld properties. In this study, dissimilar welding of F82H to SUS 316 steel was successfully achieved by friction stir lap welding technique. It revealed that the shape and microstructure of the joint interface can be controlled by controlling the welding temperature, in another word, by changing the applied load. By controlling the welding temperature at ～710°C, a sound dissimilar joint can be obtained with a smooth joint interface and no mixed microstructure, despite the relative overlapping position of the steel plates. All the dissimilar joints showed high shear tensile strength and fracture in the base metal of F82H steel plate, which has lower strength than the SUS 316 steel plate at room temperature.     

Microstructural characteristics in friction stir welded aluminium alloys

In order to elucidate distortion and residual stress generated by welding of high strength steel (HT780) by laser beam, a series of experiments and analyses were carried out. The angular distortion generated by bead-on-plate welding was V-shaped and its magnitude was about 2 mm. The longitudinal bending distortion was extremely small. On the surface of the plate, the residual stress component in the welding direction was tensile and it was smaller than the yield stress in the weld metal. The residual stress was almost zero outside the weld metal. The phase transformation range in the cooling stage and the temperature dependency of mechanical properties were obtained. The mechanical properties in the phase transformation range in the cooling stage could not be specified due to transformation expansion. Therefore, they were idealized by considering transformation expansion and transformation superplasticity. The validity of the idealized mechanical properties was verified by simulating the experiment by the thermal elastic–plastic analysis. It was elucidated that the welding out-of-plane distortion and tensile residual stress were largely controlled by phase transformation in the cooling stage, although the bead width of laser beam welding was extremely narrow.     

镁/铝合金回填式搅拌摩擦点焊的组织与性能

选用5083铝合金和AZ31B镁合金为研究对象,研究焊接时间对异种合金回填式搅拌摩擦点焊接头的金属间化合物层和拉剪性能的影响.结果表明,当焊接时间为1 s时,Mg合金的流动性较差,接头中出现明显的孔洞缺陷;随着焊接时间的变长,孔洞缺陷消失.由于铝镁表面的氧化膜在焊接过程中被打碎且焊接温度高于铝镁的共晶温度,接头中心会形成一层液相层,焊后液相层凝固形成金属间化合物.接头的抗拉载荷随着焊接时间的延长先升高后降低,最优载荷在焊接时间为2 s时取得,为3.1 kN.     

Development of novel heating tool friction stir spot welding (HT-FSSW) for AZ31 magnesium alloy

In this work, a new heating tool friction stir spot welding (HT-FSSW) process was developed, and its impacts on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded AZ31 magnesium alloy joints were investigated by microstructure observation, tensile tests and microhardness tests. An increase in the heating tool temperature resulted in a decrease in the grain size of the stir zone (SZ) and an increase in the grain size of the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). The rising heating tool temperature also aggrandised the bonded zone width and enhanced the tensile shear load strength per unit area of the HT-FSSW welded joints. With an increase in the heating tool temperature, the microhardness of SZ increased while that of the TMAZ decreased. Moreover, the slope of the Hall–Petch relationship between microhardness and grain size of the TMAZ is larger than that of the SZ.     

Influences of welding parameters on mechanical properties of AZ31 friction stir spot welds

Abstract

In this study, the influence of welding parameters, including tool rotational speed, plunge rate and dwell time, on the overlap tensile shear properties of AZ31 friction stir spot welds was investigated. The microstructures in stir zones and fracture surfaces were observed using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope respectively. The bonded width and h value (the distance from the tip of the partially bonded region to the top of the weld surface) were measured. The results indicated that larger bonded width and higher h value of the AZ31 weld result in better mechanical property. It is proposed that high tensile shear loads are produced when the tool rotational speed range of 1500–2250 rev min^?1 and 1 s dwell time are applied during the friction stir spot welding of AZ31. The plunge rate range from 2·5 to 10 mm s^?1 has insignificant influence on the tensile shear load of AZ31 joints under the present conditions. The failure mode changes from interfacial to pullout when the tool rotational speed is >2250 rev min^?1. The fracture feature of AZ31 welds is brittle fracture.     

Formation of interfacial microstructure in a friction stir welded lap joint between aluminium alloy and stainless steel

The interfacial microstructure produced through tool transit of a friction stir welded lap joint between an aluminium alloy and stainless steel was studied by transmission electron microscopy in order to clarify its early stages of formation. Transmission electron microscopy studies of the bottom surface of the exit hole revealed the presence of several mixed layers of an ultrafine intermetallic compound (IMC) and stainless steel. The joining between dissimilar materials was achieved through a continuous flow of the stirred aluminium alloy into the mixed layers and the resultant growth of the ultrafine IMCs due to the heat induced by the friction between the tool and the specimen. The continuous thin reaction layer finally produced at the interface was found to be stronger than the base aluminium alloy.     

5A06铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接接头的金属流动规律,显微组织以及腐蚀行为研究

对5A06铝合金在搅拌摩擦焊接过程中的金属流动规律以及焊后显微组织演变和腐蚀行为进行研究。结果表明:由于受到扭转和漩涡运动的综合作用,前进侧金属被直接卷入搅拌针的螺纹内部,然后被向下挤压进入焊核区。然而,后退侧的金属展现出无序的金属流动模式。通过扫描电子显微镜电子背散射分析发现,搅拌区的晶粒在动态再结晶的作用下发生了明显的细化,再结晶后平均晶粒尺寸约为6μm。对搅拌区的扫描电子显微分析结果表明,β相(Al_3Mg_2)和Al6(Mn,Fe)呈弥散分布,且和母材相比Al6(Mn,Fe)颗粒明显细化。同时,焊缝截面的硬度分布表明焊后5A06铝合金具有软化趋势,最小硬度值(HV)为720 MPa,位于搅拌区和热机影响区的界面处。通过电化学分析和浸泡后的组织观察发现搅拌区的耐腐性明显优于母材,母材的腐蚀电位为–0.725 V,而搅拌区域腐蚀电位升高35 mV。     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of friction spot welded Alclad 7B04-T74 aluminium alloy

Two millimetre thick Alclad 7B04-T74 aluminium alloy was friction spot welded at different tool rotation speeds. The weld formation, Alclad redistribution, microstructures and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. The results indicate that inappropriate tool rotation speeds can give rise to weld defects, such as annular groove, void and surface concavity. After welding, the original surface Alclad is redistributed as a U shaped Alclad layer in the weld. When the tool rotation speed is relatively high, eutectic films can be observed in the stir zone, and the Alclad layer in the weld is a preferred crack propagation path during tensile shear testing. The optimised joint with a tensile shear failure load of 11?921 N can be obtained at a tool rotation speed of 1500 rev min^?1.     

异种铝合金回填式搅拌摩擦点焊缺陷及力学性能

采用回填式搅拌摩擦点焊技术对2 mm厚5052-H112与2024-T4铝合金进行了成功的连接.试验结果表明,当焊接工艺参数选择恰当时,可得到无缺陷接头;然而,焊接工艺窗口较窄,在高热输入条件下易产生多种缺陷,如粘连韧带、孔洞、裂纹、弱连接等,且这些缺陷主要分布在两板的结合面及焊具退出工件的退出线上;力学性能测试结果表明在低热输入条件下,接头的力学性能（一字拉伸与十字拉伸）最高,这与焊点在低热输入情况下组织缺陷较少有关;在一字和十字拉伸载荷作用下,接头的失效位置位于两板结合面及退出线上,在结合面处形成了有效的冶金连接.     

Influence of tool thread on mechanical properties of dissimilar Al alloy friction stir spot welds

Abstract

The influence of threaded and wear simulated (half thread) tools on the mechanical properties of dissimilar Al alloy friction stir spot welds is investigated. With lower tool rotational speed settings, the failure loads of Al 5754/Al 6111 lap joints made using a threaded tool were clearly higher than that of a half thread tool. However, the failure load of the joints made using a half thread tool increased when the tool rotational speed increased, and finally, as the rotational speed was further increased, the failure load became almost the same as the failure load of joints made using a threaded tool. In Al 5052/Al 6061 butt joints made using the threaded and half thread tools, the area of the stir zone on the bonded cross-section corresponded with the actual bonded region on the fracture surface. Therefore, the thread on the rotating pin has limited influence on the mechanical properties of the friction stir spot lap joints.     

Microstructures and properties of friction stir spot welded DP590 dual phase steel sheets

DP590 steel sheets were joined by friction stir spot welding using polycrystalline cubic boron nitride tool with an objective to produce bond diameters similar to conventional spot welding nuggets. A range of spindle rotation (400–2400 rev min^?1) and plunge speeds (0·03–3·8 mm s^?1) were exercised to attain defect free welds in 1·6 mm thick sheets. A bond diameter of 4t^1/2, alike minimum nugget diameter criteria for resistance spot welds, resulted in superior mechanical properties than conventional spot welds. The heat inputs corresponding to different welding parameters influenced the weld microstructure, including grain size, phases and their morphology. The bond diameter was higher for higher heat inputs. However, low heat input welds with weld time cycles ～4 s produced more refined microstructure and exhibited similar strengths even with reduced bond size. Plug type failure was associated with larger bond diameters (～7·1 mm), while interfacial failure was observed with smaller welds (～5·4 mm).