The effects of casting and forging processes on joint properties in friction-welded AISI 1050 and AISI 304 steels

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of investment casting and forging process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction weldments, AISI 1050–AISI 304. A continuous-drive friction welding device with the automatic control ability of friction time and forging pressure was designed and constructed. Factorial design of experiments was performed to join investment cast AISI 1050 steels and forged AISI 1050 steels with AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel with respect to the optimized process parameters. The joint performance was evaluated by tensile and hardness tests performed parallel and perpendicular to the weld interface. Microstructure of forged parts under friction welding was examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Results of microstructural studies were compared with those of friction welding of investment cast parts. The results reveal that a recrystallized region or a mechanically mixed layer was formed on the AISI 304 side near the weld interface, depending on friction time and friction pressure. Friction welding of forged parts always exhibited higher tensile strength, lower hardness, and more upset than the cast parts.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam-welded AISI 409M-grade ferritic stainless steel

This paper deals with the microstructure and mechanical characterization of electron beam-welded AISI 409M-grade ferritic stainless steel joints. Single-pass autogenous welds free of volumetric defects were produced at a welding speed of 1,000?mm/min. The joints were subjected to optical microscopy, scanning electron fractography, microhardness, transverse and longitudinal tensile, bend and charpy impact toughness testing. The coarse ferrite grains in the base metal were changed into fine equiaxed axial grains and columnar grains as a result of characteristic rapid solidification of electron beam welds. Tensile testing indicates overmatching of the weld metal relative to the base metal. The joints exhibited acceptable impact toughness and bend strength properties.     

Investigation of mechanical properties of friction-welded AISI 304 with AISI 1021 dissimilar steels

Austenitic stainless steel and low alloy steels are extensively used in various automotive, aerospace, nuclear, chemical, and other general purpose applications. Joining of dissimilar metals is one of the challenging tasks and most essential need of the present-day industry. It has been observed that a wide range of dissimilar materials can be easily integrated by friction welding. The objectives of the present investigation were obtaining weldments between austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304) with low alloy steel (AISI 1021) and optimizing the friction welding parameters in order to establish the weld quality. In the present study, an experimental setup was designed in order to achieve friction welding of plastically deformed austenitic stainless steel and low alloy steel. AISI 304 and AISI 1021 steels were welded by friction welding using five different axial pressures at 1,430 rpm. The joining performances of friction-welded dissimilar joints were studied, and influences of these process parameters on the mechanical properties of the friction-welded joints were estimated. The joint strength was determined with tensile testing, and the fracture behavior was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and was supported and backed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Furthermore, the proposed joints were tested for impact strength, and the microhardness across the joint was also evaluated.     

Influence of process parameters on impact toughness and hardness of dissimilar AISI 4140 and AISI 304 continuous drive friction welds

Dissimilar joints between austenitic stainless steel and low alloy steel are extensively used in many high temperature applications in the energy conversion systems. In the present investigation, emphasis is made on the influence of process parameters on the impact toughness and hardness of the friction welded joints between these two materials. The important process parameters in friction welding such as friction force, forge force, and burn-off lengths are considered for optimization by Taguchi method using L₈ 2⁷ orthogonal array. It is found that under low friction force, forging force, and burn-off conditions, the impact toughness is high due to the observed acicular martensite. Low impact toughness is reported for the welds made at higher levels of the parameters. Carbon depletion is also observed close to interface in low alloy steel side. Microhardness at the weld center is less than the microhardness on either side at the interface of low alloy steel and austenitic stainless steel close to weld center. The contribution of each parameter and significance of interactions of these parameters is determined by Taguchi method. Among these parameters, friction force has significant influence and forging force has negligible influence on microhardness. The burn-off has maximum influence while forge force has minimum effect on toughness of the welds. Statistical analysis of variance is carried out, optimum process parameters are evaluated, and regression equations are obtained.     

Effects of welding wire and torch weaving on GMAW of S355MC and AISI 304L dissimilar welds

Dissimilar welding of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) to low-alloy structural steel is widely used in the power generation industry. The formation of brittle martensite and hot cracking susceptibility in the single-phase austenite microstructure are the main concerns related to the metallurgy of this kind of weld. This study investigates the effect of different welding wires and the weaving technique on the quality, microstructure and microhardness of fillet weld joints between AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel and S355MC low-alloy structural steel. Using robotised synergic gas metal arc welding (GMAW), three different filler wires were used to weld specimens with and without weaving. The macro-sections of the fillet welds were inspected and the dilution rates and ferrite numbers (FN) measured. The microstructure was also inspected and microhardness values recorded. Porosity was discerned in two weld samples made with the use of weave beads. The measured FNs for all the weldments were very close to estimations from the Schaeffler diagram. The formation of a narrow martensitic band on the ferritic side of the weld metal was detected for most of the specimens. It is concluded that weaving decreased the dilution rate and increased the FN. However, no obvious effect on the microstructure and hardness as a result of using the weaving technique was noticed.     

Investigation on the resistance spot-welded austenitic/ferritic stainless steel

In this work, the effect of weld current on joining capability of austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304) and ferritic stainless steel (AISI 430) sheets with application of resistance spot welding process was investigated. Macrostructure, microstructure, microhardness, tensile shear strength, and failure mode of welded materials were evaluated for different weld currents. The values of weld current were 2.5, 3.75, and 5 kA. It was found that when the weld current increased, the nugget size and the weld strength were increased. Two distinct failure modes including interfacial and pullout were observed during tensile shear test. Finally, an adequate weld current was obtained.     

“Finite element modeling of the effect of heat input on residual stresses in dissimilar joints”

In the present study, a thermo-elastic–plastic model was developed in order to evaluate the residual stresses in dissimilar automatic tungsten inert gas (TIG) welds between plain carbon steel CK4 and a ferritic stainless steel AISI409. The effect of welding heat input on the magnitude and the distribution of residual stresses was investigated and the results of simulation were validated by X-ray diffraction measurements. It is shown that the calculated residual stresses are in good agreement with the residual stresses determined experimentally. It was found that the magnitudes of stresses at the weld center line increases with increasing the welding speed.     

铝基复合材料─不锈钢摩擦焊焊接接头显微组织的电镜研究

利用电子显微镜技术系统地观察了铝基复合材料（ＭＭＣ）与奥氏体不锈钢之间摩擦焊焊接接头中的显微组织变化规律。发现强度较高的奥氏体不锈钢在焊接过程中发生了明显的塑性变形，焊接界面附近不同部位变形机制和特征不同，变形方式主要是形成形变孪晶、滑移带和位错亚结构。首次在透射电镜（ＴＥＭ）下观察到了一个由微晶氧化物组成的过渡层组织。     

Effect of friction welding parameters on mechanical and metallurgical properties of ferritic stainless steel

Friction welding is one of the most economical and highly productive methods in joining similar and dissimilar metals. It is widely used in the automotive and aerospace industrial applications. Ferritic stainless steel (AISI430) is normally difficult to weld by fusion methods, due to the associated problems such as grain growth and retained austenite content. Such problems can be alleviated by the friction joining process. The present study utilized a continuous drive friction welding machine to join cylindrical specimens of ferritic stainless steel of similar composition and shape (equal diameter and length). The processing parameters such as friction pressure, friction time, upsetting pressure and upsetting time were changed in order to understand the role of parameters on the strength related aspects of friction processed joints. The joints were subjected to mechanical testing methods such as the uni-axial tension test, and charpy ‘v’ notch impact tests. The micro hardness variation across the joint zone was determined. Micro structural studies were also carried out. The characteristics such as tensile strength, toughness and microstructural aspects exhibited by friction processed joints were compared to parent materials.     

刀刃半径对不锈钢切削表面残余应力影响的模拟

建立了平面应变有限元模型，采用更新的Lagrange方法模拟了奥氏体不锈钢AISI316L的正交切削过程；研究了刀刃圆弧半径对已加工表面残余应力的影响，发现随着半径的增大，残余拉应力和压应力的数值都增大，压应力层厚度也增大，但是拉应力层厚度不变。将模拟结果与实验结果进行对比，发现二者是吻合的，从而验证了有限元模拟的可用性。     

Modeling and analysis of ferrite number of stainless steel gas tungsten arc welded plates using response surface methodology

The prediction of delta ferrite content expressed in terms of ferrite number in austenitic stainless steel welds is very helpful in assessing its performance. The final ferrite content determines the properties of weldments such as strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, and phase stability. This paper presents a study on the effect of process parameters on ferrite number in 202 grade stainless steel gas tungsten arc welded plates (GTAW). Experiments were conducted based on response surface methodology. The ferrite number was determined by using a ferrite scope and by using DeLong diagram. A mathematical model was developed correlating the important controllable GTAW process parameters like welding gun angle, welding speed, plate length, welding current, and shielding gas flow rate with ferrite number. The adequacy of the model was checked using analysis of variance technique. The developed model is very useful to quantitatively determine the ferrite number. The main and interaction effects of the process parameters are presented in graphical form that helps in selecting quickly the process parameters to achieve the desired results.     

Mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction welded AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

Owing to the superior properties, of stainless steel it is pertinent to make use of it in various automotive, aerospace, nuclear, chemical and cryogenic applications. It is observed that a wide range of dissimilar materials can be easily integrated by solid phase bonding techniques, such as friction welding and explosive bonding. This study mainly focuses on friction welding of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The friction processed joints are evaluated for their integrity and quality aspects. Friction welding of austenitic stainless steel was carried out using a KUKA friction welding machine (Germany). As the friction time increased, the fully plastically deformed zone (region I) in the vicinity of the bond line becomes increased. In contrast, an increase in friction time will decrease the region (region II) where the grains are partly deformed and grown. Tensile test results indicated that, the joint strength is decreased with an increase of the friction time. The detailed fractographic observation confirmed that the rupture occurred mostly at the joint zone and partly through the base material.     

Cryogenic fracture toughness evaluation for austenitic stainless steels by means of unloading compliance method

Most research to date concerning the cryogenic toughness of austenitic stainless steels has concentrated on the base metal and weld metal in weldments. The most severe problem faced on the conventional austenitic stainless steel is the thermal aging degradation such as sensitization and carbide induced embrittlement. In this paper, we investigate the cryogenic toughness degradation which can be occurred for austenitic stainless in welding. The test materials are austenitic stainless JN1, JJ1 and JK2 steels, which are materials recently developed for use in nuclear fusion apparatus at cryogenic temperature. The small punch (SP) test was conducted to detect similar isothermally aging condition with material degradation occurred in service welding. The single-specimen unloading compliance method was used to determine toughness degradation caused by thermal aging for austenitic stainless steels. In addition, we have investigated size effect on fracture toughness by using 20% side-grooved 0.5TCT specimens.     

Mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction welded AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

Owing to the superior properties, of stainless steel it is pertinent to make use of it in various automotive, aerospace, nuclear, chemical and cryogenic applications. It is observed that a wide range of dissimilar materials can be easily integrated by solid phase bonding techniques, such as friction welding and explosive bonding. This study mainly focuses on friction welding of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The friction processed joints are evaluated for their integrity and quality aspects. Friction welding of austenitic stainless steel was carried out using a KUKA friction welding machine (Germany). As the friction time increased, the fully plastically deformed zone (region I) in the vicinity of the bond line becomes increased. In contrast, an increase in friction time will decrease the region (region II) where the grains are partly deformed and grown. Tensile test results indicated that, the joint strength is decreased with an increase of the friction time. The detailed fractographic observation confirmed that the rupture occurred mostly at the joint zone and partly through the base material.     

Study on microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar steel joint developed using friction stir welding

In the present study, microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar weld of structural steel and ferritic stainless steel (FSS) plates of thickness 3 mm were investigated. The plates were butt welded by friction stir welding and defect-free welds were produced at a traverse speed of 20 mm/min and rotational speed of 508 rpm using a tungsten carbide tool. The weld joint consisted of alternate bands of both steels resembling an onion ring pattern. In the weld joint, six distinct regions were found including both the base metals. The stir zone of structural steel revealed refined grain structure of ferrite, pearlite, and martensite whereas in ferritic stainless side, highly refined ferritic grains with grain boundary martensite was observed and also confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The hardness of the weld joint varies from 186 to 572 HV. This scatter of hardness in stir zone is due to the presence of metal from both sides. The ultimate tensile and yield strengths of the transverse weld specimens was higher than the structural steel base metal whereas lower than the ferritic stainless steel, having fracture from structural steel side.     

Effect of welding parameters on mechanical properties and optimization of pulsed TIG welding of Al-Mg-Si alloy

An attempt has been made to study the effect of pulsed TIG welding process parameters on dilution and mechanical properties such as notch tensile strength, hardness, and impact toughness in as-welded condition. Pulsed TIG welds exhibited lower notch tensile strength and impact toughness than the parent metal due to interdendritic network microstructure features. Taguchi method was used to optimize the pulsed TIG welding process parameters of heat-treatable (Al-Mg-Si) aluminum alloy weldments for maximizing the mechanical properties. An inverse relationship has been observed between the notch tensile strength and impact toughness.     

The effect of austenitic interlayer on microstructure and mechanical behaviors in keyhole plasma transfer arc welding of ferritic stainless steel couple

In this study, AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel couple of 10 mm thickness was welded by keyhole plasma transferred arc welding (KPTAW) process with or without filler wire addition using AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel interlayer of 2 mm thickness. Welded joints were manufactured with constant traverse speeds (0.01 m/min) under two different welding currents (110 and 130 A) at two different plasma gas flow rates (1.1 and 1.2 l/min), nozzle diameter (2.4 mm), and a shielding gas flow rate (25 l/min). In order to determine the microstructural changes that occurred, the interface regions of the welded samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive spectrometry after KPTAW. Microhardness and V-notch impact tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of the welded samples. In addition, fracture surface was examined by SEM after impact test.     

铝合金与不锈钢热补偿电阻点焊接头性能研究

采用热补偿工艺垫片电阻点焊法对铝合金A5052与不锈钢SUS304异种材料进行了焊接。探讨了焊接参数对接头的抗剪与抗拉性能的影响,并通过电子显微镜对接合界面区进行了观察,分析了界面反应物形貌及厚度分布等微观特性。研究结果显示：一锯齿状反应层在接合界面生成,其厚度随焊接电流以及界面上位置的变化而变化,界面反应层对接头抗剪强度无影响,但能减弱接头抗拉强度。     

喷丸三维残余应力场的有限元模拟

运用大型有限元计算软件ABAQUS建立了模拟喷丸残余应力场的三维有限元模型,预测了在相同喷丸强度下玻璃丸和钢丸两种类型弹丸喷射所产生的残余应力场。模拟过程中,分析了线性减缩积分单元的沙漏参数、材料的应变硬化率、喷丸覆盖率以及初始残余拉应力等因素对304不锈钢靶材残余应力分布的影响。从计算结果可以看出,钢丸喷丸产生的残余压应力层较深,但在高覆盖率时,玻璃喷丸产生的残余压应力的平均值比钢丸喷丸处理后产生的大。在有初始残余拉应力(250 Mpa)存在的情况下,两种类型的喷丸处理均能使304不锈钢靶材表面形成残余压应力层,这说明喷丸工艺可以提高奥氏体不锈钢焊接构件的抗应力腐蚀开裂能力。本研究成果为进一步探讨喷丸强化不锈钢焊接头抗应力腐蚀性能的机理奠定了基础。     

A new current hybrid inertia friction welding for nickel-based superalloy K418–alloy steel 42CrMo dissimilar metals

The nickel-based superalloy K418 and alloy steel 42CrMo dissimilar metals friction welding joints lack strength and toughness due to high hardening and poor joining quality at the friction interface. To resolve this issue, a new current inertia friction welding (CIFW) method is carried out by hybrid an external additional electronic current in inertia friction welding (IFW) process. The characteristics of welding formation, the elements’ diffusion, and the mechanical properties of K418–42CrMo dissimilar metal joints are studied by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffractometer tools. The experimental results show that hybrid additional electronic current has a significant positive influence on interface characteristics of IFW joints. The required welding time for CIFW to complete a good qualified joint is shortened due to mixture actions of both friction heat and resistance heat. The width of the element diffusion zone increases in CIFW joints, and elements in 42CrMo side diffuse through the K418/42CrMo interface into the K418 side in CIFW joints. The width of the K418/42CrMo bonding interface increases in CIFW joints. The microhardness at the K418/42CrMo bonding interface is decreased in CIFW joints. The mechanical tensile property of CIFW joints is increased obviously. The interface bonding pattern becomes jagged and interlocking perfect formations. These above changes improve the joining quality of K418–42CrMo dissimilar metal friction welding joints. The heat treatment effect and resistance heat effect originated from hybrid external electronic currents are discussed by comparing CIFW with IFW. A new model is proposed to illustrate the interface’s evolution and development mechanism in K418–42CrMo dissimilar metal CIFW.