Selection guide of insert piece shape for steel joint by autocompleting friction welding method

Abstract

An autocompleting friction welding method, which was developed by the authors, is to weld with using a rotating insert piece set between fixed base metals. This paper describes the selection guide of the insert piece size for steel joints by the autocompleting friction welding method. The base metal was low carbon steel (LCS), and the weld faying surface of the fixed specimen had a 10 mm diameter. The effect of the thickness at the bottom of the grooves for the insert piece (groove bottom thickness) on the joining phenomena was investigated. When the joint was made at a friction pressure of 90 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1, the insert piece had a shear fracture towards the circumferential direction (circumferential shear fracture) in the peripheral portion of the weld interfaces by the initial peak produced during the friction process. In this case, the insert piece had the following dimensions: the thickness was 4·0 mm, and the groove bottom thickness was 1·2 mm or over with an inner groove diameter of 11 mm. In particular, the joint with a groove bottom thickness of 1·2 mm had 100% joint efficiency and the LCS base metal fracture with no crack at the weld interface. The value of a circumferential shear fracture (CSF value) was defined and calculated by the ratio between the theoretical and the actual generated friction torques. When the CSF value nearly equalled 1, the joint had 100% joint efficiency and the LCS base metal fracture with no crack at the weld interface.     

Strength enhancement of autocompleting medium and high carbon steels friction welded joints

An autocompleting friction welding method, which was developed by the authors, is to weld with using a rotating insert piece set between fixed workpieces. The conditions to enhance the strength of the welded joint in an autocompleting friction welding method which involves a rotating insert between the fixed workpieces were determined. The weld faying surface of the fixed specimen had a 10 mm diameter. When MCS joint was made at an insert thickness of 4 mm through a friction pressure of 36 MPa, it did not achieve 100% joint efficiency because the weld interfaces were not completely joined. MCS joint had 100% joint efficiency and fractured on the MCS base metal although the crack was generated at the weld interface, when that was made at an inner groove diameter of 11 mm with the bottom of the grooves for the insert piece (groove bottom thickness) of 0.9 mm or more through a friction pressure of 90 MPa. To obtain a joint with no cracks, MCS joint was made with an inner groove diameter of 12 mm at a friction pressure of 90 MPa. When the groove bottom thickness was 0.75 mm, MCS joint had 100% joint efficiency and the MCS base metal fracture with no crack at the weld interface. When HCS joint was made with an inner groove diameter of 11 mm at friction pressures of 90 and 150 MPa, it did not achieve 100% joint efficiency because the weld interfaces were not joined completely. The weld interfaces of HCS joint at a friction pressure of 120 MPa were completely joined although it did not achieve 100% joint efficiency. To improve the joint efficiency, HCS joint was made with an insert thickness of 5 mm, a groove bottom thickness of 0.64 mm, and an inner groove diameter of 12 mm with a friction pressure of 120 MPa. HCS joint had 100% joint efficiency and fractured on the HCS base metal with no crack at the weld interface.     

Development of autocompleting friction welding method

Abstract

This paper describes an autocompleting friction welding method that was carried out to weld with an insert piece set between fixed base metals. The base metal was low carbon steel, and the faying surface of the fixed specimen had a 10 mm diameter. The effect of the thickness of the insert piece (insert thickness) on the joining phenomena was investigated. When the insert thickness was 3˙2 mm and the friction welding conditions were a friction speed of 27˙5 s^–1 and friction pressure of 36 MPa, the insert piece had a shear fracture toward the circumferential direction in the peripheral portion of the weld interfaces by the initial peak produced during the friction process. The joint also had cracks at the adjacent region of the weld interfaces, although it had the same tensile strength as the base metal. On the other hand, the joint made using the insert piece with a groove on its peripheral portion had the same tensile strength as the base metal, where it fractured. This joint also had 90° bend ductility without cracks. In this case, the optimum insert thickness was 4˙0 mm, and the thickness at the bottom of the grooves (groove bottom thickness) was 1˙2 mm with an 11 mm inner groove diameter, and the friction welding conditions were a friction speed of 27˙5 s^–1 and friction pressure of 36 MPa. In conclusion, a sound friction welded joint was made by an autocompleting friction welding method.     

Effect of inclination of weld faying surface on joint strength of friction welded joint and its allowable limit for austenitic stainless steel solid bar similar diameter combination

This paper describes the effect of the inclination of the weld faying surface on joint strength of friction welded joint and its allowable limit for austenitic stainless steel (SUS304) solid bar similar diameter combination. In this case, the specimen was prepared with the inclination of the weld faying surface pursuant to the JIS Z 3607, and the joint was made with that diameter of 12 mm, a friction speed of 27.5 s^?1, and a friction pressure of 30 MPa. The initial peak torque decreased with increasing inclination of the weld faying surface, and then the elapsed time for the initial peak increased with increasing that inclination. However, the steady torque was kept constant in spite of the inclination of the weld faying surface increasing. The joints without the inclination of the weld faying surface, which were made with friction times of 1.5 and 2.0 s with a forge pressure of 270 MPa, had achieved 100% joint efficiency with the base metal fracture. Those joints had 90° bend ductility with no crack at the weld interface. The joints with the inclination of the weld faying surface of 0.3 mm (gap length of 0.6 mm), which were allowable distance, was also obtained the same result with this condition. Furthermore, those joints with a friction time of 2.5 s obtained the same result. On the other hand, the joints with the inclination of the weld faying surface of 0.6 mm (gap length of 1.2 mm), which were twice inclination of the allowable distance, also obtained the same result in a friction time of 2.5 s. However, the joints without the inclination of the weld faying surface at this friction time did not obtain the base metal fracture, although those achieved 100% joint efficiency. In conclusion, to obtain 100% joint efficiency and the base metal fracture with no cracking at the weld interface, the joint must be made with the inclination of the weld faying surface, with allowable distance pursuant to the JIS Z 3607.     

Joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joint between pure aluminium and low carbon steel

Abstract

This paper describes the joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joints between pure aluminium (P-Al) and low carbon steel friction welds. When the joint was made at a friction pressure of 30 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1, the upsetting (deformation) occurred at the P-Al base metal. P-Al transferred to the half radius region of the weld interface on the low carbon steel side, and then it transferred toward the entire weld interface. When the joint was made at a friction time of 0·9 s, i.e. just after the initial peak of the friction torque, it had ～93% joint efficiency and fractured on the P-Al side. This joint had no intermetallic compound at the weld interface. Then, the joint efficiency slightly decreased with increasing friction time. The joint had a small amount of intermetallic compound at the peripheral region of the weld interface when it was made at a friction time of 2·0 s. When the joint was made at a friction time of 0·9 s, the joint efficiency decreased with increasing forge pressure, and all joints were fractured at the P-Al side. Although the joint by forge pressure of 90 MPa had hardly softened region, it had ～83% joint efficiency. To clarify the fact of decreasing joint efficiency, the tensile strength of the P-Al base metal at room temperature was investigated, and the tensile test was carried out after various compression stresses and temperatures. The tensile strength of the P-Al base metal has decreased with increasing compression stress at any temperature. Hence, the fact that the joint did not achieve 100% joint efficiency was due to the decrease in the tensile strength of the P-Al base metal by the Bauschinger effect. To obtain higher joint efficiency and fracture on the P-Al side, the joint should be made without higher forge pressure, and with the friction time at which the friction torque reaches the initial peak.     

Effect of friction welding condition on joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joint between brass and low carbon steel

Abstract

This paper describes the effect of friction welding condition on joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joints between copper–zinc alloy (brass) and low carbon steel (LCS). When the joint was made at a friction pressure of 30 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1, brass transferred to the half radius region of the weld interface on the LCS side. Then, transferred brass extended towards the almost whole weld interface with increasing friction time. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, and then the joint obtained 100% and the brass base metal fracture when the joint was made with a friction time of 4·2 s or longer. However, the fact that all joints had some cracks at the periphery portion of the weld interface was due to a deficiency of transferred brass at the periphery portion on the weld interface of the LCS side. On the other hand, brass transferred to the peripheral region of the weld interface on the LCS side, and then transferred towards the entire weld interface when the joint was made at a friction pressure of 90 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, and it reached 100% at a friction time of 1·5 s or longer. In addition, all joints fractured from the brass base metal with no cracking at the weld interface. To obtain 100% joint efficiency and the brass base metal fracture with no cracking at the weld interface, the joint should be made with opportune high friction pressure and friction time at which the entire weld interface had the transferred brass.     

Analysis of acoustic and optical signals used as a basis for controlling laser‐welding processes

Stud joints of 2017 aluminium alloy were friction welded and its joint strength was examined. A stair zone was formed at the weld interface. Although the hardness of the stair zone was almost the same as base metals, the heat-affected zone of the bar and the plate was softened. The tensile strength of joints tended to increase with a pressure and a friction time, and the highest tensile strength was 275 MPa (63.1% joint efficiency for the bar base metal). In the bending testing, joints were cracked in the weld zone at a bending angle of less than 5°. In the fatigue testing, joints fractured near the weld interface and the fatigue strength of joints increased as the tensile strength of joints was high.     

Properties of as welded and heat treated pure titanium–7075 Al–Zn–Mg alloy friction weld joints

Abstract

The effects of joining conditions and an age hardening post­weld heat treatment (PWHT) at 120°C for 24 h on the tensile strength and metallurgical properties of dissimilar friction joints between pure titanium and age strengthened 7075 Al–Zn–Mg alloy were investigated. Highest strength was achieved using intermediate friction pressure (150 MPa), short friction time (0.5 s), and high upsetting (forging) pressure (400 MPa). The joint tensile strength decreased when the joint diameter was increased from 8 to 16 mm. The joint tensile strength of as welded (AW) dissimilar joints was similar to that of PWHT joints with diameters of 8, 12, and 16 mm. Detailed TEM confirmed that there was a negligible difference in the thickness of the intermetallic layer formed at the dissimilar joint interface for AW and PWHT joints. While the intermetallic phases formed at the joint interface comprised Al₃Ti, τ (Ti₂Mg₃Al₁₈), and Al in AW joints, they consisted of Al+τ or Mg₂Al₃+τ+Al in PWHT joints. Softened regions were generated in 7075 base material immediately next to the interface in AW joints. Post­weld heat treatment increased the hardness of the softened region almost to that of as received 7075–T6 base material in 12 and 16 mm diameter joints. In contrast, the hardness of the softened region in 8 mm diameter joints could not be recovered to that of the as received material. This was a result of overaging and coarse precipitates in the softened region produced during the friction welding operation.     

Joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joint between aluminium–magnesium alloy (AA5052) and low carbon steel

Abstract

The joining phenomena and the joint strength of an Al–Mg alloy (AA5052) and low carbon steel (LCS) friction welded joints were investigated. The weld interface of the LCS side at a friction time of 1·2 s had a slightly transferred AA5052, and then the entire weld interface had it at a friction time of 3·0 s or longer. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, but it decreased at a friction time of 12·0 s or longer. The joint at a friction time of 3·0 s with forge pressure of 190 MPa had 100% joint efficiency and the AA5052 base metal fracture with no crack at the weld interface. The weld interface of these joints also had no intermetallic compound. On the other hand, the joint at a friction time of 8·0 s, which had ～97% joint efficiency, fractured between the AA5052 side and the weld interface because it had the intermetallic compound at the weld interface.     

Friction stir welding of aluminium lap joint by tool without probe

A friction stir welding process, with a rotating tool without a probe, was employed and applied to a lap joint of aluminium plate. The thickness of the aluminium plates was 0.5 mm. New tool shapes were developed. The tops of the tool were dome shaped. In this process, the rotating tool was plunged into the aluminium plate. The tool-rotating axis was vertical to the specimen surface, and then moved in the welding direction at a speed of 20 mm/s. Tool rotation speed was 18,000 rpm.

At tool plunge depths of 0.1 mm or over, it was possible to weld the two plates. At tool plunge depth of 0.1 mm, its joint was fractured at the weld interface. At tool plunge depth of 0.2 mm or over, the joints were fractured at the stir zone of the upper plate or the heat affected zone of the lower plate. Based on observation of the hardness profiles and the thickness change of the weld area, controlling factors of the joint strength are discussed.     

Effect of friction welding conditions and aging treatment on mechanical properties of A7075-T6 aluminium alloy friction joints

Abstract

This article describes the effect of friction welding conditions and aging treatment on the mechanical properties of type 7075-T6 aluminium alloy (A7075) friction welded joints. A7075 was joined by using a continuous drive friction welding machine with an electromagnetic clutch in order to prevent braking deformation during as rotation speed decreases. That is, it was welded by using the 'Low Heat Input Friction Welding Method' (LHI method) developed by the authors, in which heat input is lower than in the conventional method. The maximum joint efficiency at a friction pressure of 30 MPa was approximately 25%, and that at 90 MPa was approximately 64%. These joints were made without forge pressure. The low joint efficiency was due to the existence of non-joined regions at the welded interfaces. However, the welded joint had approximately 82% joint efficiency when the friction time was 0·5 s at a friction pressure of 90 MPa with a forge pressure of 180 MPa. The welded joint softened at the welded interface and its adjacent region. It had approximately 90% joint efficiency after aging for 730 days at room temperature (natural aging). It also had approximately 95% joint efficiency after aging for 48 h at 393 K (120°C), and had no softened region at the welded interface. The heat input of the welded joint with the LHI method could be decreased to approximately 50% of that with the conventional method. The LHI method has several advantages for A7075 friction welding; less heat input than with the conventional method, and light post-weld processing (machining, etc.) because the flash can be minimised.     

Effect of friction welding conditions on mechanical properties of A5052 aluminium alloy friction welded joint

Abstract

The present paper describes the mechanical properties of Al–Mg aluminium alloy (A5052) friction welded joints. Two types of A5052 with different tensile properties were used, namely, H112 base metal with 188 MPa tensile strength and H34 with 259 MPa tensile strength. Similar metal specimens were joined using a continuous drive friction welding machine with an electromagnetic clutch to prevent braking deformation. That is, the joints were welded using the 'low heat input' friction welding method developed by the present authors, in which the heat input is lower than in the conventional method. An A5052–H112 joint produced using a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1, friction pressure of 30 MPa, friction time of 2·0 s (just after the initial peak torque), and forge pressure of 60 MPa had approximately 95% joint efficiency. It fractured at the welded interface and in the A5052–H112 base metal. To improve the joint efficiency, an A5052–H112 joint was produced at a forge pressure of 75 MPa, which was the same as the yield strength of the A5052–H112 base metal. It had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the A5052–H112 base metal. In contrast, an A5052–H34 joint was made using a friction speed of 27·5 s^?1, friction pressure of 90 MPa, friction time of 0·3 s (just after the initial peak torque), and forge pressure of 180 MPa. It had approximately 93% joint efficiency and fractured in the A5052–H34 base metal. This joint also had a softened region at the welded interface and in the adjacent region. To improve the joint efficiency, an A5052–H34 joint was made at a forge pressure of 260 MPa, which was the same as the ultimate tensile strength of the A5052–H34 base metal. Although this joint had a slightly softened region at its periphery, it had approximately 93% joint efficiency. The failure of the A5052–H34 joint to achieve 100% joint efficiency is due to a slight softening at the periphery and the difference in the anisotropic properties of the A5052–H34 base metal between the longitudinal and radial directions.     

Explosively welded copper‐stainless steel bimetal and an example of its application

Summary

Friction welding was carried out under various welding conditions using high strength 7075 aluminium alloy; an investigation into the structure and the mechanical properties of joints thus obtained leads to the following conclusions: The fibrous structure at the heat affected zone changed to align in the direction of flash expulsion and the fibrous structure at the weld zone disappeared and a non-directional fine grain structure was evident. The hardness at the weld interface had a lower value than that of the base metal and an even more softened zone than the weld interface was noted at the heat affected zone. The hardness values at the weld interface and the softened zone were seen to recover after friction welding due to natural ageing but did not recover fully. Both the values of the tensile strength and the elongation declined compared with the base metal in joints made under the conditions that gave the maximum value of tensile strength; the former was 81% and the latter was 83% that of the base metal. The joint impact value of a specimen with a notch on the weld interface was 73% that of the base metal.     

Mechanical properties of friction welded joint between Ti–6Al–4V alloy and Al–Mg alloy (AA5052)

Abstract

The present paper describes the mechanical properties of a friction welded joint between Ti–6Al–4V alloy and Al–Mg alloy (AA5052). The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H112 joint, made at a friction speed of 27.5 rev s^?1, friction pressure of 30 MPa, friction time of 3.0 s, and forge pressure of 60 MPa, had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052–H112 base metal. The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint, made under the same friction welding conditions, did not achieve 100% joint efficiency and it fractured in the AA5052–H34 base metal because the AA5052–H34 base metal had softened under friction heating. The joints made at low friction speed or using short friction time showed fracture at the welded interface because a sufficient quantity of heat for welding could not be produced. However, the joints made at high friction speed or using long friction time were also fractured at the welded interface: in this instance, the welded interface also had an intermetallic compound layer consisting of Ti₂Mg₃Al₁₈. The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint made at a friction speed of 27.5 rev s^?1 with friction pressure of 150 MPa, friction time of 0.5 s, and forge pressure of 275 MPa had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052–H34 base metal, although the AA5052–H34 side softened slightly. In conclusion, the Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H112 joint and Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052 base metal when made under the friction welding conditions described above.     

Development of friction stir spot welding using rotating tool without probe and its application to low-carbon steel plates

A friction stir spot welding process, in which a rotating tool without a probe was employed, was applied to a lap joint of low carbon steel plates with 0.5 mm thickness. In this process, the rotating tool of 3.6 mm diameter, rotating at 18,000 rpm, was plunged into the upper plate at a rate of 0.2 mm/s, and then kept at a maximum plunged depth of 0.05–0.25 mm for 0–1 s (dwell time). In the weld obtained by this process, a hole due to the impression of the plunged tool probe was not formed, although a slight depression by the tool plunging remained. At tool plunge depths of 0.05 mm or less, it was impossible to weld the plates. At tool plunge depths from 0.1 to 0.14 mm, joints were fractured at the interface in tensile test, and the failure load increased with tool plunge depth. At tool plunge depths from 0.16 to 0.22 mm, joints were fractured at an almost constant load along the periphery of the depression, leaving a part of the upper plate on the bottom plate surface. The maximum tensile failure load of 1.8 kN was obtained at a plunge depth of 0.2 mm. Based on the observation of the weld microstructure and measurement of the thermal cycle at various spots in the weld, controlling factors of the joint strength are discussed.     

Characterizations of friction welding joint interface for AISI 316

Because of heat amount is different from peripheral to central of friction welding interface, which is leaded to vary the characterizations along that interface. Current study, respectively, focused on the effect of different friction pressure on micro-structural and mechanical properties of that friction welding joint interface. Presently, these friction pressures are 110, 130, 150 and 170 MPa while kept all other conditions constant. The effects of different friction pressure on welding interface characterization were investigated by EDX, SEM, tensile, compression, impact and hardness tests. The tensile tests carried out on the standardized test piece with diameter 6 mm and 8 mm, thus, compression tests were extracted from the positions of 0°, 45° 90° with test specimen of 4 mm diameter and 6.5 mm length at weld center. Whereas, the impact test pieces were picked up in two positions, the first one is symmetrical, which it obtained to the respect of the rotation axis and the interface, on the other hand, the second one is non-symmetrical with the axis of rotation and symmetrical to the interface, for making the notch head coincide with the center of the welded joint, The obtained results showed that with reducing of friction pressure will present lack of bonding increasing from peripheral toward the welding center, which will responsible on reducing of the mechanical properties such as tensile, compression and impact strength.     

Friction stir spot welding of aluminium to steel by rotating tool without probe

A friction stir spot welding process, in which a rotating tool without a probe was employed, was applied to a lap joint of an aluminium plate to a low carbon steel plate. The thicknesses of both plates were 0.5 mm. In this process, the rotating tool of 5 mm diameter, rotating at 18,000 rpm, was plunged into the aluminium plate at a rate of 2 mm/s, and then kept at a maximum plunged depth of 0.05–0.35 mm for 0–2 s (dwell time). In the weld obtained by this process, a hole due to the impression of the penetrated tool probe was not formed, although a slight depression by the tool plunging remained. At tool plunge depths of 0.1 mm or over, it was possible to weld the two plates. The maximum tensile failure load of 454 N was obtained at a plunge depth of 0.1 mm and a dwell time of 1.5 s. Its joint was fractured at an almost constant load along the periphery of the depression, leaving a part of the aluminium plate on the steel plate surface. Based on the observation of the weld interface microstructure and metal flow of aluminium in the weld, controlling factors of the joint strength were discussed.     

Full penetration welding of thick high tensile strength steel plate with high-power disk laser in low vacuum

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the effect of reduced ambient pressure from an atmospheric pressure (101 kPa) to 0.1 kPa on one-pass full penetration welding of thick high-tensile strength steel plate of 23 mm thickness. A 16 kW disk laser of 1030 nm in wavelength was employed to weld HT980 grade plates at the speed of 5–25 mm/s. In partial penetration welding, it was revealed that humping phenomena occurred easily. Full penetration welding of the high-tensile strength steel plates could not be achieved at 101 kPa. On the other hand, full penetration welding was obtained at the welding speed of less than 20 mm/s at the pressure of less than 10 kPa. Especially, at 0.1 kPa, and 17 and 20 mm/s, sound weld joints without defects were obtained. According to the observation results of a keyhole inlet and a surface molten pool during welding with a high-speed video camera, the melt in front of a keyhole was smaller and the behaviour of a keyhole and a plume was much more stable at 0.1 kPa than at 101 kPa. Moreover, in the full penetration welding, spattering was suppressed under the proper conditions. Such phenomena became more stable in fast welding. It was revealed in laser welding of thick high-tensile strength steel plates that the formation of narrow I-shaped weld beads by achieving full-penetration welding in low vacuum was essential for the production of sound welds without defect.     

Properties and improvement of super fine grained steel friction welded joint

Abstract

This paper describes friction welded joint properties of super fine grained steel (SFGS) and discusses improvements in these joint properties. The average grain size diameter of the SFGS base metal is ～0·6 μm, and its ultimate tensile strength is 660 MPa. The joint, made by a continuous drive friction welding machine (conventional method), fractured at the welded interface even though it possessed 100% joint efficiency. This was due to both the coarsening of the grain size and the softening of the welded interface with its adjacent region caused by heat input during braking times. The authors developed a joining method using a continuous drive friction welding machine that has an electromagnetic clutch to eliminate heat input during braking time, which was called the 'low heat input friction welding method' (LHI method). The joint obtained by the LHI method had the same tensile strength as the base metal at the friction time when the friction torque reached the initial peak. That is, the joint obtained 100% joint efficiency and fractured at the base metal, although the adjacent region of the welded interface softened only slightly. The grain size of this joint was smaller than that obtained by the conventional method. It was clarified that the optimum friction welded joint of the SFGS could be obtained by the LHI method in comparison with the conventional method.     

铝合金/不锈钢惯性摩擦焊接头的组织特性和力学性能研究

惯性摩擦焊是一种连接异种金属理想的焊接方法,对铝合金/不锈钢采用惯性摩擦焊进行焊接,并详细研究了焊接接头的形貌、组织、界面成分和力学性能.结果表明,在惯性摩擦焊接头的界面处形成了很薄的金属间化合物(IMC)反应层,该反应层主要由Al、Fe 元素组成,是富集Si 元素的FeAl3相.惯性摩擦焊接头组织由焊核区、完全动态再...