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.     

Dissimilar friction stir lap welding of AA 5754-H22/AA 6082-T6 aluminium alloys: Influence of material properties and tool geometry on weld strength

Dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) of heat (AA 6082-T6) and non-heat (AA 5754-H22) treatable aluminium alloys, in lap joint configuration, was performed in this work. The base material plates were 1 mm thick. Welds were performed combining different plates positioning, relative to the tool shoulder, in order to assess the influence of base materials properties on welds strength. Three different tools were tested, one cylindrical and two conical, with different taper angles. Welds strength was characterized by performing transverse and tensile–shear tests. Strain data acquisition by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to determine local weld properties. The results obtained enabled to conclude that the dissimilar welds strength is strongly dependent on the presence of the well-known hooking defect and that the hooking characteristics are strongly conditioned by base materials properties/positioning. By placing the AA 6082-T6 alloy, as top plate, in contact with the tool shoulder, superior weld properties are achieved independently of the tool geometry. It is also concluded that the use of unthreaded conical pin tools, with a low shoulder/pin diameter relation, is the most suitable solution for the production of welds with similar strengths for advancing and retreating sides.     

Friction stir welding of dissimilar aluminum alloys AA2219 to AA5083 – Optimization of process parameters using Taguchi technique

The joining of dissimilar Al–Cu alloy AA2219-T87 and Al–Mg alloy AA5083-H321 plates was carried out using friction stir welding (FSW) technique and the process parameters were optimized using Taguchi L₁₆ orthogonal design of experiments. The rotational speed, transverse speed, tool geometry and ratio between tool shoulder diameter and pin diameter were the parameters taken into consideration. The optimum process parameters were determined with reference to tensile strength of the joint. The predicted optimal value of tensile strength was confirmed by conducting the confirmation run using optimum parameters. This study shows that defect free, high efficiency welded joints can be produced using a wide range of process parameters and recommends parameters for producing best joint tensile properties. Analysis of variance showed that the ratio between tool shoulder diameter and pin diameter is the most dominant factor in deciding the joint soundness while pin geometry and welding speed also played significant roles. Microstructural studies revealed that the material placed on the advancing side dominates the nugget region. Hardness studies revealed that the lowest hardness in the weldment occurred in the heat-affected zone on alloy of 5083 side, where tensile failures were observed to take place.     

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of 6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy Joints by Self-support Friction Stir Welding

The majority of this research has concentrated on developing the self-support friction stir welding（SSFSW） tool which consists of a big concave upper shoulder and a small convex lower shoulder, and procedures for making reliable welds in aluminum hollow extrusion. The 5-mm-thick 6082-T6 aluminum alloy was self-support friction stir welded at a constant tool rotation speed of 800 r/min. The effect of welding speed on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The results of transverse tensile test indicated that the tensile strength of joints increased and the elongation decreased with increasing welding speed. The whole values of microhardness of SSFSW joints increased with increasing welding speed from 10 to 200 mm/min. The defectfree joints were obtained at lower welding speeds and the tensile fracture was located at the heat-affected zone（HAZ） adjacent to the thermo-mechanically affected zone（TMAZ） on the advancing side. The investigation of the flow pattern of the softened metal around the SSFSW tool revealed that the flow pattern of the softened metal was driven by two shoulders and the stir pin. The failure of specimens in tension presented the ductile fracture mode.     

铝合金厚板静止轴肩搅拌摩擦焊接头组织及性能

采用8.5 mm厚度2A14-T4铝合金和自主研制搅拌工具进行静止轴肩搅拌摩擦焊（stationary shoulder friction stir welding,SSFSW）实验,探讨焊接工艺参数对接头组织和力学性能的影响规律。结果表明：只有在低转速工艺参数范围内（转速ω=400~600 r/min与焊接速率v=60~120 mm/min）可获得焊缝表面光滑、无缺陷厚板铝合金SSFSW焊接接头。SSFSW焊缝区主要由焊核区（NZ）组成,周围热力影响区（TMAZ）及热影响区（HAZ）宽度明显减小,焊核区与搅拌针形状类似且由两种不同尺寸细小等轴晶构成,前进侧NZ晶粒比后退侧NZ更为细小。接头显微硬度呈"W"状分布,NZ硬度值可达到母材硬度80%~90%,TMAZ与HAZ交界处存在软化区,硬度最低为母材硬度72%左右。在给定ω=500 r/min,v=140 mm/min焊接参数下,SSFSW接头抗拉强度可达到母材的88%,断裂位置多位于后退侧TMAZ与HAZ交界处软化区,具有韧性断裂特征。     

Friction stir welding of dissimilar materials between AA6061 and AA7075 Al alloys effects of process parameters

Dissimilar AA6061 and AA7075 alloy have been friction stir welded with a variety of different process parameters. In particular, the effects of materials position and welding speed on the material flow, microstructure, microhardness distribution and tensile property of the joints were investigated. It was revealed that the material mixing is much more effective when AA6061 alloy was located on the advancing side and multiple vortexes centers formed vertically in the nugget. Three distinct zones with different extents of materials intercalations were identified and the formation mechanism of the three zones was then discussed. Grain refinement was observed in all three layers across the nugget zone with smaller grains in AA7075 Al layers. All the obtained joints fractured in the heat-affected zone on the AA6061 Al side during tensile testing, which corresponds very well to the minimum values in microhardness profiles. It was found that the tensile strength of the dissimilar joints increases with decreasing heat input. The highest joint strength was obtained when welding was conducted with highest welding speed and AA6061 Al plates were fixed on the advancing side. To facilitate the interpretation, the temperature history profiles in the HAZ and at zones close to TMAZ were also measured using thermocouple and simulated using a three-dimensional computational model.     

Effect of tool rotational speed and pin profile on microstructure and tensile strength of dissimilar friction stir welded AA5083-H111 and AA6351-T6 aluminum alloys

The relatively new welding process friction stir welding (FSW) was applied in this research work to join 6 mm thick dissimilar aluminum alloys AA5083-H111 and AA6351-T6. The effect of tool rotational speed and pin profile on the microstructure and tensile strength of the joints were studied. Dissimilar joints were made using three different tool rotational speeds of 600 rpm, 950 rpm and 1300 rpm and five different tool pin profiles of straight square (SS), straight hexagon (SH), straight octagon (SO), tapered square (TS), and tapered octagon (TO). Three different regions namely unmixed region, mechanically mixed region and mixed flow region were observed in the weld zone. The tool rotational speed and pin profile considerably influenced the microstructure and tensile strength of the joints. The joint which was fabricated using tool rotational speed of 950 rpm and straight square pin profile yielded highest tensile strength of 273 MPa. The two process parameters affected the joint strength due to variations in material flow behavior, loss of cold work in the HAZ of AA5083 side, dissolution and over aging of precipitates of AA6351 side and formation of macroscopic defects in the weld zone.     

工具形状及工艺过程对搅拌摩擦增材成形及缺陷的影响

采用2mm厚的2195-T8铝锂合金作为增材板条,利用5种不同形状的搅拌工具进行搅拌摩擦增材工艺实验。利用金相观察和硬度测试的分析方法,重点探讨搅拌工具形状与工艺过程对增材成形、界面缺陷及硬度分布的影响。结果表明:圆柱状和三角平面圆台状搅拌针下增材界面上下材料无明显混合,偏心圆柱状和三凹圆弧槽状搅拌针有利于增材界面上下材料混合及减小界面钩状缺陷;增材前进侧界面形成致密无缺陷冶金连接,而后退侧界面材料混合不充分,钩状缺陷易伸入焊核区,且弱连接缺陷起源于此。四层增材中,相邻两层焊接方向相反的增材工艺使除顶层增材外其他增材两侧钩状缺陷向焊核区外侧弯曲,弱连接缺陷得到改善;顶层增材后退侧钩状缺陷伸入焊核区。增材焊核区有明显软化现象,但不同增材工艺下焊核区硬度分布均匀,表明搅拌摩擦增材制造可获得性能均匀的增材;相比于单道焊接工艺,来回双道焊接工艺使单层增材焊核区进一步软化;四层增材中,越靠近顶部的增材,其焊核区平均硬度越大。     

6082-T6铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接接头的微区腐蚀行为

国内外有关铝合金的搅拌摩擦焊接(FSW)接头腐蚀性能的研究主要涉及接头的宏观腐蚀行为,对焊缝微区腐蚀行为的报道很少。通过电化学测试、静态失重试验、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)等试验手段研究6082-T6铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头不同区域的耐腐蚀性能,发现搅拌摩擦焊接试样在焊缝中间区域的耐腐蚀性能最好,其次依次是搅拌针后方和搅拌针前方,母材的耐腐蚀性能最差。6082-T6铝合金母材、搅拌针前方和搅拌针后方发生腐蚀的类型主要为晶间腐蚀和剥落腐蚀,随着时间增加,晶间腐蚀和剥落腐蚀程度加剧,焊缝中间区域基本不发生腐蚀。母材和搅拌针前方晶内沉淀相为针状沉淀相,在晶界附近存在沉淀无析出相;晶界析出相富含Mg和Si元素,晶界析出相和沉淀无析出带之间以及晶内基体与沉淀无析出带之间存在腐蚀原电池,导致腐蚀较严重;搅拌针后方和焊核区由于受到轴肩和搅拌针作用,焊后位错减少,组织细化,降低形成局部腐蚀原电池倾向,导致耐腐蚀性能较好。通过对腐蚀后FSW接头铝合金的微观组织形貌观察,结合试验所得到的微观组织,确定了影响接头腐蚀行为的原因和相应的腐蚀机理,为拓展6082-T6铝合金的运用范围提供理论依据。     

Effect of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of AA6061-T6 butt welded joints by stationary shoulder friction stir welding

Stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) butt welded joints were fabricated successfully for AA6061-T6 sheets with 5.0 mm thickness. The welding experiments were performed using 750–1500 rpm tool rotation speeds and 100–300 mm/min welding speeds. The effects of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties for the obtained welds were discussed and analyzed in detail. It is verified that the defect-free SSFSW welds with fine and smooth surface were obtained for all the selected welding parameters, and the weld transverse sections are obviously different from that of conventional FSW joint. The SSFSW nugget zone (NZ) has “bowl-like” shapes with fairly narrow thermal mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) and the microstructures of weld region are rather symmetrical and homogeneous. The 750–1500 rpm rotation speeds apparently increase the widths of NZ, TMAZ and HAZ, while the influences of 100–300 mm/min welding speeds on their widths are weak. The softening regions with the average hardness equivalent 60% of the base metal are produced on both advancing side and retreating side. The tensile properties of AA6061-T6 SSFSW joints are almost unaffected by the 750–1500 rpm rotation speeds for given 100 mm/min, while the changing of welding speed from 100–300 mm/min for given 1500 rpm obviously increased the tensile strength of the joint and the maximum value for welding parameter 1500 rpm and 300 mm/min reached 77.3% of the base metal strength. The tensile fracture sites always locate in HAZ either on the advancing side or retreating side of the joints.     

Thermo-mechanical and microstructural issues in dissimilar friction stir welding of AA5086–AA6061

In this research, thermo-mechanical behavior and microstructural events in dissimilar friction stir welding of AA6061-T6 and AA5086-O have been evaluated. The thermo-mechanical responses of materials during the process have been predicted employing a three-dimensional model together with a finite element software, ABAQUS. Then, mechanical properties and microstructures of the weld zone were studied with the aid of experimental observations and model predictions. It is found that the mixing of material in the weld nugget is performed more efficiently when AA5086 is in the advancing side and also the temperature field is distributed asymmetrically resulting in larger thermally affected region in the AA6061 side. Besides, the microstructural studies shows that the microstructures of stirred zone consist of fine equiaxed grains where finer grains are produced in AA6061 side compared to AA5086 side.     

压铸态AZ91D镁合金搅拌摩擦焊接头微观组织研究

采用搅拌摩擦焊工艺对4mm厚的压铸态AZ91D镁合金进行对接工艺实验,搅拌头旋转速率1500r/min,焊接速率120mm/min;使用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对焊接接头微观组织进行了研究。结果表明:焊缝外观成形美观,但内部存在贯穿型隧道状孔洞缺陷;焊核区为典型的变形-再结晶组织,为细小、均匀的等轴晶;机械-热影响区为变形-部分再结晶组织,热影响区组织形貌与母材相近但伴有轻微的长大现象;焊核区与机械-热影响区的过渡具有以下特征:在前进侧呈现"突变"特征,在后退侧呈现"渐变"特征。     

Influence of a non-rotating shoulder on heat generation,microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar AA2024/AA7050 FSW joints

Friction stir welding (FSW) and stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) were carried out for the butt joining of dissimilar AA2024-T3 and AA7050-T7651 aluminium alloys with thicknesses of 2 mm. A comparison between the two processes was performed by varying the welding speed while keeping the rotational speed constant. Through the analysis of the force and torque produced during welding and a simple analytical model, it was possible to show that in SSFSW there is more effective coupling with the tool and the heat produced is more efficiently distributed. This process decreases both the welding area and the diffusion at the interface of the two alloys compared with FSW. The minimum microhardness occurred at the advancing side (AS) at the interface between the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and the stir zone (SZ) in both processes, although the decrease was more gradual in SSFSW. This interface is also where all specimens failed for both welding technologies. An increase in tensile strength was measured in SSFSW compared with standard FSW. Furthermore, it was possible to establish the mechanical performance of the material in the fracture zone using digital image correlation.     

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     

Effect of FSW parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of AM20 welds

This paper aims to demonstrate the successful friction stir welding (FSW) conditions of AM20 magnesium alloy. The maximum yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of weld were found to be 75% and 65% of the base metal strength, respectively. The maximum bending angle of the welded joint was 45°. Observations revealed that less plunging depth, high shoulder diameter, and low tool rotational speed and welding speed give better tensile properties. Maximum temperature was observed at 1?mm away from the tool shoulder toward the advancing side. Micro-hardness variation is found to be decreasing along the depth of the weld, and nugget zone (NZ) gives the higher hardness values when compared with base material (BM) and other welded zones. Needle-like grains of the BM became equiaxed grains due to grain recrystalized by the FSW process. The grains in the NZ were finer than thermo-mechanically affected zone and almost same size of grains observed at bottom, middle, and top of the NZ.     

Fatigue fracture behaviour and thermographic analysis of friction stir-welded AZ31

The fatigue fracture behaviour and thermographic analysis of friction stir-welded (FSW) AZ31 was studied. It showed that fatigue fracture at the advancing side (AS). Heat-affected zone (HAZ) contained a greater fraction of coarse grains and a small amount of twins. The grains in the thermo-mechanically affected zone were smaller, indicating that grains may originate from incompletely dynamic recrystallisation during the FSW. The nugget zone is composed of equiaxed grains caused by the dynamic recrystallisation. During cyclic deformation, hysteresis loops from the AS of the FSW joints with the stain amplitude were higher than the retreating side of the FSW joints, the temperature of HAZ at AS is higher than other regions.     

铝合金厚板搅拌摩擦焊焊缝局部金属的塑性流动特征

以0.02mm厚铜箔为标示材料,采用带三角平面圆锥形搅拌针对20mm厚7075-T6铝板进行焊接。通过测试沿焊缝厚度方向上温度场分布及观察标示材料分布状态,分析焊缝局部金属塑性流动行为特征。结果表明,沿焊缝厚度方向上自上而下的金属温度逐渐降低;焊缝上、下表面温度差约为90℃;同一厚度上相对称的两点,位于前进边金属的温度高于返回边约15℃。位于焊核区上部的铜箔呈细小颗粒状均匀分布;下部铜箔则呈层片状分布,且向前进边偏移。焊核区由多个呈纹路状、有序排列的洋葱环结构相互层叠而成,这与焊缝塑化金属沿轴向迁移方式发生变化有关。     

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

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

异种铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接接头的微观组织与力学性能

采用搅拌摩擦焊方法对4mm厚的5083铝合金与6082铝合金进行了焊接,对焊接接头的微观组织和力学性能进行了分析。结果表明,焊核区由细小的等轴再结晶组织构成,6082铝合金在前进侧的抗拉强度大于5083铝合金在前进侧的抗拉强度,正弯试验与背弯试验角度都达到180°。     

Effects of tool rotation speed on microstructures and mechanical properties of AA2219-T6 welded by the external non-rotational shoulder assisted friction stir welding

The external non-rotational shoulder assisted friction stir welding (NRSA-FSW) was applied to weld high strength aluminum alloy 2219-T6 successfully, and effects of the tool rotation speed on microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. Defect-free joints were obtained in a wide range of tool rotation speeds from 600 rpm to 900 rpm, but cavity defects appeared on the advancing side when the tool rotation speed increased to 1000 rpm. The microstructural deformation and heat generation were dominated by the rotating tool pin and sub-size concave shoulder, while the non-rotational shoulder helped to improve the weld formation. Microstructures and Vickers hardness distributions showed that the NRSA-FSW is beneficial to improving the asymmetry and inhomogeneity, especially in the weld nugget zone (WNZ). At the tool rotation speed of 800 rpm, both the tensile strength and the elongation reached the maximum, and the maximum tensile strength was up to 69.0% of the base material. All defect-free joints were fractured at the weakest region with minimum Vickers hardness in the WNZ, while for the joint with cavity defects the fracture occurred at the defect location.