Projection friction stir spot welding: a pathway to produce strong keyhole-free welds

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces a novel facile method, called projection friction stir spot welding, to produce a keyhole-free friction stir welds based on a pinless tool method involving using a specially designed projection on the surface of the backing anvil. The projection plays two key roles contributing to the bonding mechanism and the joint strength: (i) encouraging the material flow perpendicular to the joint interface and (ii) bending the joint interface at the edge of the projection. The process enables pathway to produce keyhole-free welds with superior mechanical performance in steel sheets compared to the other spot welding techniques.     

20mm厚2219铝合金可回抽搅拌摩擦焊接及接头组织和性能分析

为了解决封闭环缝的焊接匙孔问题,研究了采用可回抽搅拌摩擦焊接进行匙孔消除的焊接工艺. 在厚板可回抽焊接过程中,搅拌针末端的瞬时空腔问题受体积效应影响将更为显著且更难控制. 研究了不同回抽焊接长度下20 mm中厚板2219铝合金可回抽焊接接头的内部质量、组织形貌和力学性能. 结果表明,在焊接速度100 mm/min、搅拌头转速400 r/min的参数组合下,回抽焊接区长度为200 ~ 500 mm时,可获得无内部缺陷的可回抽搅拌摩擦焊焊缝;回抽焊接区接头横截面上存在2个焊核,靠近焊缝上表面的焊核大小随着回抽过程不断减小;一次焊接、重复焊接和可回抽焊接接头的拉伸性能依次降低,且可回抽焊接接头的力学性能随着回抽距离的增长而有所提升;在实际工程应用中回抽距离500 mm为较优的参数选择.     

工艺参数对复合搅拌摩擦点焊接头力学性能的影响

采用LF21铝合金研究了复合搅拌摩擦焊时焊接工艺参数(旋转速度、旋转半径)对焊接接头力学性能的影响.结果表明,当其它焊接参数一定时,焊点的力学性能随着搅拌头旋转速度的增加而增加,当搅拌头的旋转速度增加到1 200 r/min时,焊点的剪切力达到最大值为3.47 kN,随着搅拌头旋转速度的进一步增加,焊点的力学性能开始降低.改变旋转半径,焊点的力学性能随着旋转半径的增加而增加,当旋转半径达到0.5 mm时,焊点的剪切力达到最大值为3.47 kN,然后,随着旋转半径的继续增加,焊点的力学性能开始降低.LF21铝合金的复合搅拌摩擦点焊焊点的微观组织与直插式搅拌摩擦点焊不同的是,在塑性环的边上形成了一个由第二层塑性环形成的"耳朵形"区域.     

超声振动对6061-T4铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头组织和性能的影响

利用自主研制的试验装置,通过工具头将超声振动能量施加在搅拌头前方的待焊工件上,研究了超声振动能量对减少焊接缺陷、改善搅拌摩擦焊接头组织和力学性能的影响.对6 mm厚度6061-T4铝合金板进行了超声振动强化搅拌摩擦焊工艺试验,并与相同工艺条件下的常规搅拌摩擦焊进行了对比.结果表明,超声振动能够减小焊速/转速比较大时的焊缝内部隧道型缺陷,增大材料对接混合区宽度和焊核区体积,细化焊核区和热力影响区微观组织,提高接头抗拉强度和焊核区显微硬度.     

Effect of rotation speed on microstructure and mechanical properties of bobbin tool friction stir welded AZ61 magnesium alloy

The 5-mm-thick AZ61 magnesium alloy was friction stir welded by using the specially designed bobbin tool with various rotation speeds. Defect-free welds were successfully obtained with rotation speed ranging from 550 to 600?rev?min^?1. Grain size in different regions of the joints varied depending on the rotation speed. The hardness value of the joint is uniform. The defective joint fractured in the weld nugget zone with the lowest tensile strength, while the fracture location of the defect-free joints changed to the heat affected zone. The impact energy of weld nugget zone is higher than that of the heat affected zone, and the impact energy of the two zones in defect-free joint both decreased with increasing rotation speed.     

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si alloy self-reacting friction stir welded joints

The 5?mm thick Al–Mg–Si alloy was self-reacting friction stir welded using the specially designed tool at a constant rotation speed of 400?rev?min^?1 with various welding speeds. Defect-free welds were successfully obtained with welding speeds ranging from 150 to 350?mm?min^?1, while pore defects were formed in the weld nugget zone (WNZ) at a welding speed of 450?mm?min^?1. Band patterns were observed at the advancing side of WNZ. Grain size and distribution of the precipitated phase in different regions of the joints varied depending on the welding speed. The hardness of the weld was obviously lower than that of the base metal, and the lowest hardness location was in the heat affected zone (HAZ). Results of transverse tensile tests indicated that the defective joint fractured in the WNZ with the lowest tensile strength, while the fracture location of the defect-free joints changed to the HAZ.     

Effect of tool rotation rate on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded copper

Abstract

Defect free copper welds were achieved by friction stir welding (FSW) carried out at a constant welding speed of 100 mm min^?1. The influence of tool rotation rate on microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture location was investigated. As the tool rotation rate increased, the grains of nugget zone grew significantly, the thermomechanically affected zone became indistinct and the grain size increased, but the effect of tool rotation rate on the grain size of heat affected zone was limited. Both ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation increased first and then decreased with increasing rotation rate and the UTS achieved a highest value of 282 MPa at the rotation rate of 400 rev min^?1 together with the welding speed of 100 mm min^?1, which was on the level of the base metal. The fracture occurred at the cavity defect on the advancing side of the joint when the FSW was performed at a low tool rotation rate, while it occurred on the retreating side when the tool rotation rate was relatively high.     

铝合金2024-M搅拌摩擦焊接头性能

通过轴向拉伸试验,研究了搅拌针旋转速度对铝合金2024-M接头力学性能的影响.结果表明,轴向拉伸断裂部位随搅拌针转速的变化而变化,高转速下接头组织中有大量块体颗粒被保留下来,降低了接头强度,断裂发生在焊核区;低转速下因轴肩与焊接材料间摩擦机制作用在接头成形中的比例减小,层间结合力减弱,接头断裂面呈现层状结构,焊核区又成为断裂的敏感部位;当焊接速度为20 mm/min时,搅拌针转速存在一个理想的焊接参数范畴,在这个焊接参数范畴内焊接的试样断裂通常发生在母材区,断裂面与拉伸轴成45°,属典型的剪切断裂.     

LY12铝合金摩擦点焊工艺及力学性能

摩擦点焊是在搅拌摩擦焊基础上开发的一种新型固态连接技术.针对2 mm厚的LY12铝合金,研究了摩擦点焊过程中的焊接工艺参数对焊点成形及力学性能的影响.结果表明,当焊接时间一定,搅拌头旋转速度较高时,焊点的表面成形较好;随着搅拌头旋转速度的降低,焊点的表面成形逐渐变差.焊点的抗剪载荷随搅拌头旋转速度增加呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,当搅拌头旋转速度为950 r/min、焊接时间为8 s时,焊点的抗剪载荷达到最大值,为9.33 kN/点.焊点横截面的显微硬度测试结果表明,显微硬度沿匙孔中心呈高-低-较高-低-高的"W"形分布,最小值出现在热影响区,塑性区的显微硬度较高,但略小于母材.     

转速对6061铝合金/纯铜异种金属搅拌摩擦焊接头组织与性能的影响

采用搅拌摩擦焊技术对4 mm厚6061-T6铝合金和纯铜进行连接,研究转速对铝铜异种金属接头组织与力学性能的影响。结果表明,当焊接速度为30 mm/min、搅拌头转速在1 200~1 800 r/min的范围内,可以获得表面成形良好、无缺陷的铝铜异种金属接头。大量破碎的铜被搅入焊核区,形成了组织结构复杂的区域。通过EDS和XRD分析,在焊核区内发现了Al_2Cu、Al_4Cu_9和Al Cu金属间化合物。在界面处,铝和铜发生相互扩散形成金属间化合物层,随着转速的提高,化合物层逐渐变厚。由于晶粒细化、固溶强化作用以及金属间化合物的生成,异种接头的焊核区平均显微硬度值高于铝铜两侧平均硬度,并且在焊核区出现硬度峰值点。随着转速的增加,接头抗拉强度呈现先增大后减小的趋势,所得最优接头抗拉强度为183 MPa,达到铜母材的71.8%,断裂位置位于铝侧热影响区,断裂方式为韧性断裂。     

Global and local mechanical properties and microstructure of Bobbin tool friction-stir-welded Al–Li alloy

AA2198–T851 sheets were welded by bobbin tool friction stir welding using a rotational speed of 800?rpm and welding speed of 42?mm?min^?1. The microstructure and precipitates within the joint were characterised by transmission electron microscopy. The global and local mechanical behaviour was determined using a digital image correlation system. Specific attention was given to the relationship between the local microstructure and properties across the joint, which govern the global strength and ductility of the welds. A lower global elongation of the joint is caused by the premature strain localisation in the softened zone.     

Structure-Property Correlation of AA2014 Friction Stir Welds: Role of Tool Pin Profile

The influence of rapid plastic deformation in the generation of welding heat during friction stir welding (FSW), supplementing the frictional heat generation by the tool shoulder, forms the thrust of the present investigation. Several researchers have highlighted the role of tool shoulder in the generation of frictional heat and suggested that the tool-material interface friction as the sole mechanism for heating. The configuration of tool pin profile is seldom studied for its contribution to welding heat through rapid plastic deformation at high strain rates (10³/s), especially while welding thick plates. An attempt has been made to understand the dependence of deformation heat generation with different tool pin profiles in welding 5 mm thick AA2014-T6 aluminum alloy, maintaining the same swept volume during the tool rotation. An attempt has also been made to correlate the influence of process response variables such as force and torque acting on the tool pin. To quantify the physical influence of tool pin profile, temperature measurements were made in the region adjacent to the rotating pin, close to nugget in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ). It has been observed that the temperature rises at a relatively rapid rate in the case of hexagonal tool pin compared to the welds produced employing other tool pin profiles. It is observed that during FSW, extensive deformation experienced at the nugget zone and the evolved microstructure strongly influences the mechanical properties of the joint. The present study is also aimed at understanding the influence of tool profile on the microstructural changes and the associated mechanical properties. Transverse tensile samples failed at the nugget/TMAZ boundary due to localized softening. Hexagonal tool pin profile welds have shown higher tensile strength, low TMAZ width, and high nugget hardness compared to other tool pin profile welds.     

The effect of welding parameters on the corrosion behaviour of friction stir welded AA2024-T351

The effect of welding parameters (rotation speed and travel speed) on the corrosion behaviour of friction stir welds in the high strength aluminium alloy AA2024-T351 was investigated. It was found that rotation speed plays a major role in controlling the location of corrosion attack. Localised intergranular attack was observed in the nugget region for low rotation speed welds, whereas for higher rotation speed welds, attack occurred predominantly in the heat-affected zone. The increase in anodic reactivity in the weld zone was due to the sensitisation of the grain boundaries leading to intergranular attack. Enhancement of cathodic reactivity was also found in the nugget as a result of the precipitation of S-phase. The results were compared with samples of AA2024-T351 that had been heat treated to simulate the thermal cycle associated with welding, and with samples that had been exposed to high temperatures for extended periods to cause significant over-ageing.     

Macrostructures and mechanical properties of ultrasonic-assisted friction stir welding joint of 2024-T3 aluminium alloy

In friction stir welding of aluminum alloys, tunnel defect may occur due to insufficient plastic material flow caused by lower heat input in the weld region. The inadequacy in heat input is due to improper selection of friction stir welding tool and process parameters. Ultimately, such defects degrade the properties of weld and may pose serious concerns towards the integrity and safety of the weld component. In order to improve the properties of weld joints, an ultrasonic-assisted friction stir welding device has been configured where ultrasonic energy is transferred from an ultrasonic unit directly into one of the workpieces near the tool. Using this configuration, ultrasonic-assisted friction stir welding was conducted on 6 mm thick 2024-T3 aluminum alloy sheets. The macrostructure and mechanical properties of these welds were compared with the welds of this alloy prepared by conventional friction stir welding using identical process parameters. The results show that the welding speed can be increased while satisfactory weld quality is still ensured. The ultrasonic energy transferred in this configuration could enlarge the volume of weld nugget zone. Also, the influence of ultrasonic energy on the suppression or elimination of the tunnel defect is quite apparent. However, any beneficial effects of ultrasonic vibration on the tensile strength and the elongation of the joint were less obvious in this configuration.     

AZ31B镁合金水环境搅拌摩擦焊接研究

对比研究了AZ31B镁合金空气环境搅拌摩擦焊接(Friction Stir Welding,FSW)和水环境搅拌摩擦焊接(Submerged Friction Stir Welding,SFSW)接头的微观组织与力学性能。结果表明:SFSW接头焊核区为细小等轴状再结晶晶粒。随着焊接速度的增大,焊核区晶粒尺寸增大,显微硬度值降低。FSW接头表层处的显微组织比中心处粗大,且分布不均匀;而SFSW接头表层处的显微组织比中心处明显细小。FSW接头的表层硬度值低于中心处的硬度;而SFSW接头的表层硬度值高于中心处的硬度。当旋转速度为950r·min-1、焊接速度为75mm·min-1时,SFSW接头的抗拉强度值达到最大,为母材强度的72%,拉伸断口表现为解理断裂特征。     

Orbital friction stir lap welding in tubular parts of aluminium alloy AA5083

In this study, orbital friction stir lap welding of 360?mm diameter AA5083-H321 tube to 350?mm diameter AA5083-O flange was investigated. The influence of rotational and travel speed of tool with triangular frustum pin on the metallurgical structure and mechanical properties of orbital friction stir lap welded samples were studied. The results indicated that defect free orbital lap joints are successfully obtained using tool rotational speed of 650 and 800?rev?min^?1 with a constant travel speed of 40?mm?min^?1. The strengthening mechanism in the stir zone is solid solution strengthening and dislocation looping. The maximum joint strength was achieved at a welding speed of 650?rev?min^?1 and 40?mm?min^?1. Failure of tensile shear test samples occurred far from the friction stir welding zone.     

2219-O铝合金的搅拌摩擦焊接

对2219-O铝合金进行了搅拌摩擦焊接,采用光学显微镜分析了接头的微观组织,采用拉伸试验方法评价了接头的力学性能.微观分析表明,在热机循环的共同作用下,焊核区(WNZ)发生了动态再结晶,形成了细小的等轴晶粒,并且沉淀相的数量较其它各区有所增加;热机影响区(TMAZ)晶粒被拉长、弯曲,发生了动态回复和部分再结晶,晶粒内部开始有新的晶粒生成;热影响区(HAZ)的晶粒发生粗化.力学性能测试结果表明,当转速为800r/min,焊接速度为200～400 mm/min时,接头与母材等强度,断裂发生在母材区;当焊接速度大于400mm/min时,接头的抗拉强度很低,断裂发生在缺陷处.     

Development of friction stir welding of high strength steel sheet

Abstract

For friction stir welding (FSW) of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) sheets with tensile strength grades between 590 and 1180?N?mm^?2, the appropriate welding condition range and the influence of welding conditions on microstructures and mechanical properties of the welds were investigated. The appropriate welding conditions to avoid defects such as the incomplete consolidation at the bottom of the weld were obtained for the steel sheets up to 1180?N?mm^?2 grade. The higher tool rotation speed evidently resulted in the larger volume fraction of martensite and higher hardness in the stir zone (SZ), attributed to an increase in the peak temperature of its thermal cycle. The tensile strength of the weld joint was as high as that of the base metal for the steels up to 980?N?mm^?2 grade, but slightly lower than that of the base metal for the steel of 1180?N?mm^?2 grade due to the heat affected zone (HAZ) softening.     

焊接参数对7A04铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头组织与力学性能的影响

采用不同的焊接参数对3 mm厚7A04铝合金板进行焊接,并对接头的组织、沉淀相、力学性能及断口形貌进行了分析. 结果表明,焊核区组织发生动态再结晶,形成细小的等轴晶粒,热影响区晶粒发生明显粗化. TEM分析结果显示,经搅拌摩擦焊后,焊核区部分沉淀相溶解. 焊核区晶粒尺寸随焊接速度增大而减小. 当焊接速度为120 mm/min,旋转速度为800 r/min时,接头强度达到最大值 454.2 MPa,为母材的95%,断后伸长率为3.97%,为母材的70%. 硬度测试显示搅拌摩擦焊接头发生软化,焊缝区域硬度低于母材,硬度值最低点出现在热影响区;拉伸断口形貌SEM图像表明接头断裂方式为韧性和脆性混合型断裂.     

2205双相不锈钢搅拌摩擦焊接头组织和性能

采用不同搅拌头转速,研究了搅拌头转速对4 mm厚2205双相不锈钢板材搅拌摩擦焊接头组织及性能的影响. 结果表明,当焊接速度为50 mm/min时,搅拌头转速在600 ~ 800 r/min的范围内,均可获得表面成形良好且内部无缺陷的接头.接头搅拌区在动态再结晶的作用下组织得到细化,硬度值较高,热影响区在焊接热作用下组织粗化,硬度值较低.整个接头的铁素体含量在50% ~ 60%范围内,且随着转速的升高搅拌区的铁素体含量有所增加. 当转速为600 r/min时,接头的抗拉强度达到最大824 MPa,为母材的97.3%,断裂位置为接头的热影响区.