Effect of Welding Parameters on Tensile Properties and Fatigue Behavior of Friction Stir Welded 2014-T6 Aluminum Alloy

The present work describes the effect of welding parameters on the tensile properties and fatigue behaviour of 2014-T6 aluminum alloy joints produced by friction stir welding (FSW). Characterization of the samples has been carried out by means of microstructure, microhardness, tensile properties and fatigue behaviors. The hardness in the softened weld region decreases with decreasing the welding speed. Irrespective of the tool rotation speeds, the best tensile and fatigue properties were obtained in the joints with the welding speed of 80 mm/min. The joint welded with a rotating speed of 1520 rpm at 80 mm/min has given a highest tensile and fatigue properties. The fatigue behaviors of the joints are almost consistent with the tensile properties, especially elongations. Higher ductility in FSW joints made the material less sensitive to fatigue. The location of tensile fractures of the joints is dependent on the welding parameters. On the other hand, the fatigue fracture locations change depending on the welding parameters and stress range. In addition, a considerable correlation could not be established in between heat indexes and mechanical properties of FSW 2014-T6 joints under the investigated welding parameters.     

Structure and mechanical properties of 1570C alloy welds produced by friction stir welding

The effect of the conditions of friction stir welding (FSW) of 1570C aluminum alloy sheets on the structure and mechanical properties of the welded joints is studied. A recrystallized fine-grained structure with a grain size changing with the rate of welding tool rotation forms in a weld during FSW. As compared to the base metal, the yield strength of the weld metal decreases by 9–22% depending on the rate of welding tool rotation, and the ultimate tensile strength is almost independent of the FSW conditions and accounts for ～90% of the ultimate tensile strength of the base metal. The plasticity of the weld metal is >13% for all rates of welding tool rotation. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the weld zone are discussed.     

Process Optimization for Friction-Stir-Welded Martensitic Steel

Advanced high-strength M190 steel sheets were joined by friction-stir welding under different tool rotational and traversing speeds. The optical microstructure of the joints exhibited complete martensite and partial martensite at the weld nugget depending on the cooling rate during welding. The first heat-affected zone outside of the weld nugget revealed ferrite-pearlite phase aggregate, and the second heat-affected zone showed a tempered martensitic structure. The interplay of process variables in terms of peak temperature and cooling rate was studied to observe their effect on joint efficiency under shear testing. The peak hardness at weld nugget was close to the parent alloy at an intermediate cooling rate of 294 to 313 K/s. The lowest hardness was observed at the first heat-affected zone for all welded joints. Joint efficiency was dependent on relative quantity of ferrite-pearlite at first heat-affected zone. In that respect, the intermediate temperature to the tune of ~1193 K to 1273 K (~920 °C to 1000 °C) at the weld nugget was found to be beneficial for obtaining an adequate quantity of pearlite at the first heat-affected zone to provide joint efficiency of more than 50 pct of that of parent alloy.     

Al?Zn?Mg?Cu?Zr?(Sc)合金搅拌摩擦焊接头组织和性能

利用光学显微镜、透射电子显微镜、显微硬度计和万能拉伸试验机等分析手段,表征了Al?Zn?Mg?Cu?Zr?(Sc)合金搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）接头的显微组织和性能,探究了Sc元素对改善超高强Al?Zn?Mg?Cu?Zr合金焊接性能的作用机制。结果表明:Al?Zn?Mg?Cu?Zr?(Sc)合金焊接接头具有相似的组织特征,焊核区为动态再结晶组织,由细小均匀的等轴晶组成,包含较高密度的位错线,大部分时效析出相回溶;热力影响区晶粒被拉长,位错密度更高,残留的时效析出相显著粗化;热影响区保留与母材相同的晶粒形态,大部分时效析出的η'相发生长大,少部分粗化成η相。添加质量分数0.17%的Sc,可以使合金FSW接头抗拉强度提升43 MPa,屈服强度提升23 MPa,断后伸长率改善2.3%,焊接系数达到74.1%。Al₃(Sc,Zr)二次析出相可以强烈抑制位错、亚晶界、晶界的移动,细化晶粒的同时保留大量的亚结构,且自身可发挥Orowan弥散强化作用。因此,可通过细晶强化、亚结构强化和弥散强化三种方式显著提高合金FSW接头的力学性能。      

Effect of Tool Offset and Tool Rotational Speed on Enhancing Mechanical Property of Al/Mg Dissimilar FSW Joints

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a promising solid-state joining technique for producing effective welds between Al alloy and Mg alloy. However, previously reported Al/Mg dissimilar FSW joints generally have limited strength or barely any ductility with relatively high strength, which was blamed on the brittle intermetallics formed during welding. In this study, effective joints with comparably high strength (163 MPa) and large elongation (~6 pct) were obtained. Three crucial/weak zones were identified in the welds: (1) Al/Mg bottom interface (BI) zone that resulted from the insufficient materials’ intermixing and interdiffusion; (2) banded structure (BS) zone which contains intermetallic particles possibly formed by constitutional liquation; and (3) softened Al alloy to the retreating side (SAA-RS) zone due to the dissolution and coarsening of the strengthening precipitates. Three fracture modes observed in the tensile specimens perpendicular to the weld seam were found closely related to these zones. Their microstructure evolution with the change of tool rotational speed and tool offset was characterized and the consequent effect on the fracture mode alteration was studied. It turned out that enhancing the strengths of all these zones, but keeping the strength of the SAA lowest, is an effective way for enhancing ductility while keeping comparatively high strength in Al/Mg FSW joints. Also, suggestions for further improving the mechanical property of the Al/Mg dissimilar FSW joints were made accordingly for practical applications.     

焊接速度对机器人搅拌摩擦焊AA7B04铝合金接头组织和力学性能的影响

针对熔化焊在焊接AA7B04铝合金时易在焊缝中出现孔洞等缺陷,且接头性能下降明显、焊后变形大,以及采用铆接等机械连接方式会增加连接件的重量等问题,采用集成了搅拌摩擦焊末端执行器的KUKA Titan机器人对2 mm厚AA7B04高强铝合金进行了焊接,在转速为800 r·min^-1的条件下,研究了焊度对焊接过程中搅拌头3个方向的受力F_x、F_y和F_z的影响.研究发现,F_z受焊速的影响显著,随焊速的增加而降低.利用光学显微镜、透射电子显微镜、拉伸试验、三点弯曲试验和硬度测试等方法,研究了不同焊速下AA7B04铝合金接头的微观组织和力学性能.结果表明：当焊速为100 mm·min^-1时,接头的抗拉强度最高为447 MPa,可达母材的80%,且所有接头的正弯和背弯180°均无裂纹;接头横截面的硬度分布呈W型,硬度最低点出现在热力影响区和焊核区的交界处,焊速不同会导致不同的焊接热循环,且随着焊速的增加接头的硬度随之增加;焊核区组织发生了动态再结晶,生成了细小的等轴晶粒,前进侧和后退侧热力影响区的晶粒均发生了明显的变形;前进侧热影响区析出η'相,后退侧热影响区因温度较高析出η'相和尺寸较大的η相.     

Friction welding of Cu-tube to Al-tube plate using an external tool

In the present study, friction welding of tube to tube plate using an external tool (FWTPET) was used to weld copper tubes with aluminum plates. Tubes were prepared with holes along the faying surfaces of tubes and cleaned before welding. The weld microstructure shows line of stir zone (SZ), a narrow thermo mechanically affected zone and heat affected zone (HAZ). The welded samples were found to have satisfactory joint strength and the XRD study showed the presence of AlCu intermetallic in the weld zone. The hardness survey revealed that there was a slight increase in hardness adjacent to the weld interface due to grain refinement. Better weld joints were achieved when the tool rotation speed and interference are 1500 rpm and 0.8 mm respectively. The present study confirms that a high quality copper tube to aluminium tube plate joint can be achieved by FWPET process.     

Comparison of microstructure and properties between joints of FSW and TIG 316L austenitic stainless steel

FSW and TIG were conducted on 316L stainless steel.Variation during microstructure and properties in joints obtained by different welding methods was studied.The results show that the effect of severe mechanical stirring and intense plastic deformation creat a fine recrystallized grain in the welding joint during FSW.As for TIG,the temperature of welding joint exceeds the melting point of welded material itself.The entire welding process belongs to the solidification of a small molten pool;and the microstructure of the joint takes on a typical casting structure.When the welding parameters were selected appropriately,the average ultimate tensile strength of FSW joints can reach 493 MPa,which is 83.6%of base metal;the average elongation is 52.1%of base metal.The average ultimate tensile strength of TIG joints is 475 MPa, which is 80.5%of base metal;the average elongation is 40.8%of base metal.The tensile test of FSW joints is superior to the TIG joints.The microhardness of FSW joint compared to base metal and TIG joint having a significant improvement,which arel95.5 HV,159.7 HV and 160.7 HV,respectively;grain refinement strengthening plays an important role in enhancing the microhardness.The electrochemical corrosion tests show that the joint of FSW 316L austenitic stainless steel has a good corrosion resistance.     

Friction Stir Brazing: a Novel Process for Fabricating Al/Steel Layered Composite and for Dissimilar Joining of Al to Steel

A novel process of friction stir brazing (FSB) for fabricating Al/steel layered composite (by multipass) and for joining Al to steel (by single pass) was proposed to avoid the wear of pin by steel, in which a tool without pin was used. FSB of 1.8-mm-thick Al sheet to steel sheet was conducted using a cylindrical tool with 20-mm diameter but without pin and using 0.1-mm-thick zinc foil as filler metal. For the rotational speed of 1500 rpm, sound joints were reliably obtained at the medium range of traverse speed of 75 to 235 mm/min, which fractured within Al parent sheet during tensile shear test. Furthermore, for peel test on the sound joints, Al and steel parent sheets tended to crack and deform, respectively. Metallographic examination showed that most Zn was extruded and the resultant interfacial structure consisted of several Al-Fe intermetallic compounds (IMCs) with a little Zn, less than 3 at. pct. The thickness of IMCs can be controlled to be less than 10 μm by properly increasing traverse speed (e.g., 150 mm/min). The metallurgical process of FSB was investigated by observing the microstructure of the longitudinal section of a friction stir brazed joint obtained by the suddenly stopping technique.     

Friction Stir Lap Welding of Magnesium Alloy to Steel: A Preliminary Investigation

An initial study was made to evaluate the feasibility of joining magnesium alloy AZ31 sheet to galvanized steel sheet in a lap configuration using friction stir welding (FSW). Two different automotive sheet steels were used for comparative evaluation of the dissimilar joining potential: a 0.8 mm thick, electrogalvanized (EG) mild steel, and a 1.5 mm thick hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel. These steels were joined to 2.33 mm thick AZ31B magnesium sheet. A single FSW tool design was used for both dissimilar welds, and the process parameters were kept the same. The average peak load for the AZ31-1.5 mm steel weld joint in lap shear mode was found to be 6.3 ± 1.0 kN. For the AZ31-0.8 mm steel weld, joint strength was 5.1 ± 1.5 kN. Microstructural investigation indicates melting of the Zn coating present on the steel sheets, and subsequent alloying with the Mg sheet resulted in the formation of a solidified Zn-Mg alloy layer.     

Evaluation of Microstructure and Mechanical Property of FSW Welded MB3 Magnesium Alloy

An experiment was carried out on the friction stir welding of MB3 magnesium alloy to determine welding parameters for obtaining an excellent weld appearance without void, cracking, or distortion. Frictional heat and plastic flow created fine and equiaxed grains in the weld nugget, and the elongated and recovered grains in the thermomechanically affected zone （TMAZ）. The grains in the heat affected zone （HAZ） grow slightly. The me- chanical property results show that maximum joint tensile strength can reach 97. 2% of the parent material, which is stronger than that of fusion joints; and the failure almost occurs in the heat affected zone.     

Determination of Optimal Process Parameters of Friction Stir Welding to Join Dissimilar Aluminum Alloys Using Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

This paper presents the efforts of joining dissimilar aluminum alloys (AA6351-T6 and AA6061-T6) by friction stir welding (FSW) process. FSW experiments are conducted according to the three factors five level central composite rotatable design method, and the response surface methodology was used to establish the empirical relationship between FSW process parameters such as tool rotational speed (N), tool traverse speed (S) and axial force (F), and the response variables such as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and percentage of elongation. The developed empirical models’ adequacies are estimated using the analysis of variance technique. This paper also presents the application of the artificial bee colony algorithm to estimate the optimal process parameters to achieve good mechanical properties of FS weld joints. Results suggest that the estimations of the algorithm are in good agreement with the experimental findings.     

Microstructure and Fatigue Properties of a Friction Stir Lap Welded Magnesium Alloy

Friction stir welding (FSW), being an enabling solid-state joining technology, can be suitably applied for the assembly of lightweight magnesium (Mg) alloys. In this investigation, friction stir lap welded (FSLWed) joints of AZ31B-H24 Mg alloy were characterized in terms of the welding defects, microstructure, hardness, and fatigue properties at various combinations of tool rotational rates and welding speeds. It was observed that the hardness decreased from the base metal (BM) to the stir zone (SZ) across the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). The lowest value of hardness appeared in the SZ. With increasing tool rotational rate or decreasing welding speed, the average hardness in the SZ decreased owing to increasing grain size, and a Hall–Petch-type relationship was established. Fatigue fracture of the lap welds always occurred at the interface between the SZ and TMAZ on the advancing side where a larger hooking defect was present (in comparison with the retreating side). The welding parameters had a significant influence on the hook height and the subsequent fatigue life. A relatively “cold” weld, conducted at a rotational rate of 1000 rpm and welding speed of 20 mm/s, gave rise to almost complete elimination of the hooking defect, thus considerably (over two orders of magnitude) improving the fatigue life. Fatigue crack propagation was basically characterized by the formation of fatigue striations concomitantly with secondary cracks.     

Properties of friction-stir-welded 7075 T651 aluminum

Friction stir welding (FSW), a new welding technique invented at TWI, was used to weld 7075 T651 aluminum, an alloy considered essentially unweldable by fusion processes. This weld process exposed the alloy to a short time, high-temperature spike, while introducing extensive localized deformation. Studies were performed on these solid-state welds to determine mechanical properties both in the longitudinal direction, i.e., within the weld nugget, and, more conventionally, transverse to the weld direction. Because of the unique weld procedure, a fully recrystallized fine grain weld nugget was developed. In addition, proximate to the nugget, both a thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) were created. During welding, temperatures remained below the melting point and, as such, no cast or resolidification microstructure was developed. However, within the weld nugget, a banded microstructure that influences room-temperature fracture behavior was created. In the as-welded condition, weld nugget strength decreased, while ductility remained high. A low-temperature aging treatment failed to fully restore T651 strength and significantly reduced tensile ductility. Samples tested transverse to the weld direction failed in the HAZ, where coarsened precipitates caused localized softening. Subsequent low-temperature aging further reduced average strain to failure without affecting strength. Although reductions in strength and ductility were observed, in comparison to other weld processes, FSW offers considerable potential for welding 7075 T651 aluminum.     

Effect of Process Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloy

Friction stir welding process is a promising solid state joining process with the potential to join low melting point materials, particularly aluminum alloys. The most attractive reason for this is the avoidance of solidification defects formed during conventional fusion welding processes. Tool rotational speed and the welding speed play a major role in deciding the weld quality. In the present work an effort has been made to study the effect of the tool rotational speed and welding speed on mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction stir welded joints of aluminum alloy AA6082-T651. The micro hardness profiles obtained on welded zone indicate uniform distribution of grains in the stir zone. The maximum tensile strength obtained is 263 MPa which is about 85% of that of base metal. Scanning electron microscope was used to show the fractured surfaces of tensile tested specimens.     

The Effect of Cu Powder During Friction Stir Welding on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AA3003-H18

Friction stir welding (FSW) was used to join 3003-H18 non-heat-treatable aluminum alloy plates by adding copper powder. The copper powder was first added to the gap (0.1 and 0.2 mm) between two plates and then the FSW was performed. The specimens were joined at various rotational speeds of 800, 1000, and 1200 rpm at traveling speeds of 70 and 100 mm/min. The effects of rotational speed, second pass of FSW, and direction of second pass also were studied on copper particle distribution and formation of Al-Cu intermetallic compounds in the stir zone. The second pass of FSW was carried out in two ways; in line with the first pass direction (2F) and in the reverse direction of the first pass (FB). The microstructure, mechanical properties, and formation of intermetallic compounds type were investigated. In high copper powder compaction into the gap, large clusters were formed in the stir zone, while fine clusters and sound copper particles distribution were obtained in low powder compaction. The copper particle distribution and amount of Al-Cu intermetallic compounds were increased in the stir zone with increasing the rotational speed and applying the second pass. Al₂Cu and AlCu intermetallic phases were formed in the stir zone and consequently the hardness was significantly increased. The copper particles and in situ intermetallic compounds were symmetrically distributed in both advancing and retreating sides of weld zone after FB passes. Thus, the wider area was reinforced by the intermetallic compounds. Also, the tensile test specimens tend to fracture from the coarse copper aggregation at the low rotational speeds. At high rotational speeds, the fracture locations are placed in HAZ and TMAZ.     

Microstructural Evolution and Fracture Behavior of Friction-Stir-Welded Al-Cu Laminated Composites

In this study, we attempt to characterize the microstructural evolution during friction stir butt welding of Al-Cu-laminated composites and its effect on the fracture behavior of the joint. Emphasis is on the material flow and particle distribution in the stir zone. For this purpose, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, energy-dispersive spectroscopy EDS and XRD analyses, hardness measurements, and tensile tests are carried out on the joints. It is shown that intermetallic compounds exist in lamellas of banding structure formed in the advancing side of the welds. In samples welded from the Cu side, the banding structure in the advancing side and the hook formation in the retreating side determine the fracture behavior of the joint. In samples welded from the Al side, a defect is formed in the advancing side of the weld, which is attributed to insufficient material flow. It is concluded that the contact surface of the laminate (Al or Cu) with the shoulder of the FSW tool influences the material flow and microstructure of welds.     

Influence of Tool Rotational Speed and Post-Weld Heat Treatments on Friction Stir Welded Reduced Activation Ferritic-Martensitic Steel

The effects of tool rotational speed (200 and 700 rpm) on evolving microstructure during friction stir welding (FSW) of a reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel (RAFMS) in the stir zone (SZ), thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and heat-affected zone (HAZ) have been explored in detail. The influence of post-weld direct tempering (PWDT: 1033 K (760 °C)/ 90 minutes + air cooling) and post-weld normalizing and tempering (PWNT: 1253 K (980 °C)/30 minutes + air cooling + tempering 1033 K (760 °C)/90 minutes + air cooling) treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties has also been assessed. The base metal (BM) microstructure was tempered martensite comprising Cr-rich M₂₃C₆ on prior austenite grain and lath boundaries with intra-lath precipitation of V- and Ta-rich MC precipitates. The tool rotational speed exerted profound influence on evolving microstructure in SZ, TMAZ, and HAZ in the as-welded and post-weld heat-treated states. Very high proportion of prior austenitic grains and martensite lath boundaries in SZ and TMAZ in the as-welded state showed lack of strengthening precipitates, though very high hardness was recorded in SZ irrespective of the tool speed. Very fine-needle-like Fe₃C precipitates were found at both the rotational speeds in SZ. The Fe₃C was dissolved and fresh precipitation of strengthening precipitates occurred on both prior austenite grain and sub-grain boundaries in SZ during PWNT and PWDT. The post-weld direct tempering caused coarsening and coalescence of strengthening precipitates, in both matrix and grain boundary regions of TMAZ and HAZ, which led to inhomogeneous distribution of hardness across the weld joint. The PWNT heat treatment has shown fresh precipitation of M₂₃C₆ on lath and grain boundaries and very fine V-rich MC precipitates in the intragranular regions, which is very much similar to that prevailed in BM prior to FSW. Both the PWDT and PWNT treatments caused considerable reduction in the hardness of SZ. In the as-welded state, the 200 rpm joints have shown room temperature impact toughness close to that of BM, whereas 700 rpm joints exhibited very poor impact toughness. The best combination of microstructure and mechanical properties could be obtained by employing low rotational speed of 200 rpm followed by PWNT cycle. The type and size of various precipitates, grain size, and evolving dislocation substructure have been presented and comprehensively discussed.     

Effects of Initial Temper Condition and Postweld Heat Treatment on the Properties of Dissimilar Friction-Stir-Welded Joints between AA7075 and AA6061 Aluminum Alloys

In this study, dissimilar AA7075-O/6061-O and AA7075-T6/6061-T6 butt joints were produced by friction stir welding (FSW), and postweld heat treatment (PWHT) was applied to the joints obtained. The effects of initial temper condition and PWHT on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the dissimilar joints were thus investigated. It was demonstrated that sound dissimilar joints can be produced for both temper conditions. A hardness increase in the joint area (i.e., strength overmatching) was obtained in the joints produced in the O-temper condition, whereas a hardness loss was observed in the joint area of the joints obtained in the T6 temper condition. It was also well demonstrated that PWHT could be used in order to improve the joint properties for both O and T6 joints provided that the joint is defect-free prior to subsequent heat treatment.     

激光拼焊异种超高强钢组织和力学性能

 汽车轻量化后对安全性和碰撞吸能性提出了更高要求,从而促进了高强、吸能材料及其拼接技术的发展。以汽车安保件之一的汽车B柱为研究对象,采用能满足要求的DP980双相钢和22MnB5热冲压成型钢异种材料进行激光拼焊,研究焊接热输入对焊接接头显微组织与力学性能的影响。通过保持激光输出功率不变(1.3 kW)改变焊接速度的方法控制焊接热输入,考察焊接热输入与拼焊接头组织和力学性能之间的关系。利用光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、显微硬度测试仪和拉伸试验机研究接头不同亚区的组织和性能。结果表明,当焊接速度为16~26 mm/s时,均获得了完整而无缺陷的熔化区组织;随着焊接速度的提高,不仅焊缝表面凹陷逐步改善,并且焊接热影响区宽度也随之减小。硬度测试表明,接头中存在明显的软化区域,主要分布在DP980侧热影响区的回火区和不完全相变区,而DP980侧热影响区的细晶区、粗晶区、22MnB5侧热影响区以及焊缝金属区的硬度则有所增加,形成了焊接接头的硬化区。拼焊接头在能形成完整接头的条件下抗拉强度保持为576~597 MPa,断裂均发生在22MnB5侧的母材区,断裂时有明显的颈缩现象;接头断后伸长率为11.9%~15.5%,介于DP980母材(11%)和22MnB5(22%)母材的断后伸长率之间;研究还表明,焊接热输入越大,焊接接头相同区域的组织越粗大。