Process optimisation and microstructural evolution of friction stir spot-welded Al6061 joints

The joint strength and subsequent microstructural evolution of a friction stir spot-welded AA6061-T6 alloy was investigated according to the process parameters: tool rotation speed, dwell time and pin angle of the tool. A maximum tensile shear load of 2.78?kN was obtained from the joints generated under a combination of process variables like 1000 and 1500?rev?min^?1, 5?s, 5°. Under a fixed pin angle of 5° and a rotational speed of 1000?rev?min^?1, an increase in dwell time from 1 to 5?s resulted in a considerable increase in tensile shear load. An empirical process map under a fixed tool design is proposed to determine a feasible range of process conditions.     

Flow patterns in friction stir welds of AA5083 and AA6082 alloys

The flow patterns in dissimilar friction stir welds of AA5083-O and AA6082-T6 alloys have been studied. It was observed that material flows (pushes but does not mix) more from the advancing side into the retreating side. Material flow from the retreating side to the advancing side only occurs in the tool shoulder domain, and the pull is greatest at the transition region between the tool shoulder domain and the tool pin domain. It was also observed that materials tend to extrude out only in the thermomechanically affected zone of the retreating side, which was influenced by rotation of both the tool shoulder and the tool pin. The finest grains were present in the regions closest to the tool edge in the retreating side. The volume fraction of recrystallized grains increases down into the deeper part of the nugget from the flow arm region. Microhardness measurements revealed that regions of lowest hardness values were the nugget and the heat affected zone of the AA6082-T6 alloy side. The welding speeds had no influence on the microhardness values per se, but affected the mixing proportions in the flow arm and in the nugget stem.     

Effects of welding parameters and post-heat treatment on mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA2195-T8 Al-Li alloy

In this study, the effects of main welding parameters(rotation speed(ω) and welding speed(v)) on the microstructure, micro-hardness distribution and tensile properties of friction stir welded(FSW)2195-T8 Al-Li alloy were investigated. The effects of T6 post-treatments at different solution and aging conditions on the mechanical properties and microstructure characteristics of the FSW joints were also investigated. The results show that with increasing and v, both strength and elongation of the joints increase first, and then decrease with further increase of and v. All the joints under varied welding parameters show significant strength loss, and the strength reaches only 65% of the base metal. The effect of T6 post-heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the joints depends on the solution and aging conditions. Two heat treatment processes(480℃× 0.5 h quenching + 180℃× 12 h,520℃× 0.5 h quenching + 180℃× 12 h aging) are found to increase the joint strength. Furthermore,low temperature quenching(480℃) is more beneficial to the joint strength. The joint strength can reach 85% of the base metal. Whereas both low temperature aging(140℃× 56 h) and stepped aging(100℃× 12 h + 180℃× 3 h) processes decrease the joint strength. After heat treatment all the joints show decreased ductility due to the obvious grain coarsening in the nugget zone(NZ) and thermo-mechanically affected zone(TMAZ).     

Taguchi optimization and ultrasonic measurement of residual stresses in the friction stir welding

The main goal of this study is optimization of residual stresses produced by friction stir welding (FSW) of 5086 aluminum plates. Taguchi method is employed as statistical design of experiment (DOE) to optimize welding parameters including feed rate, rotational speed, pin diameter and shoulder diameter. The optimization process depends on effect of the welding parameters on longitudinal residual stress, which is measured by employing ultrasonic technique. The ultrasonic measurement method is based on acoustoelasticity law, which describes the relation between acoustic waves and internal stresses of the material. In this study, the ultrasonic stress measurement is fulfilled by using longitudinal critically refracted (L_CR) waves which are longitudinal ultrasonic waves propagated parallel to the surface within an effective depth. The ultrasonic stress measurement results are also verified by employing the hole-drilling standard technique. By using statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA), it has been concluded that the most significant effect on the longitudinal residual stress peak is related to the feed rate while the pin and shoulder diameter have no dominant effect. The rotational speed variation leads to changing the welding heat input which affects on the residual stress considerably.     

Characterisation and modelling of toughness in 6013-T6 aerospace aluminium alloy friction stir welds

The effect of the friction stir welding process on the toughness properties of AA6013-T6 sheet has been investigated. The alloy was received and welded in the peak aged T6 condition and the toughness measured at intervals across the weld by means of a notched tear test, with subsequent fractographic examination via field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEGSEM) and microstructural characterisation via optical microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). It is shown that the controlling factors for toughness in AA6013-T6 following FSW are the population and distribution of the coarse α-(Al,Fe,Si,Mn) intermetallic particles, with strength variations caused by precipitate dissolution, coarsening and transformation representing a secondary consideration. Minimum toughness occurs at the boundary between the weld nugget and the heat-affected zone due to the alignment and concentration of coarse particles at this point by the FSW process. A simple model is implemented and provides a reasonable prediction of the weld toughness from simple microstructural observations.     

Microstructure,microhardness and corrosion susceptibility of friction stir welded AlMgSiCu alloy

Microstructure, microhardness and corrosion susceptibility of friction stir welded joint in an AlMgSiCu alloy were investigated. It was found that the joint exhibits different corrosion susceptibility among the microstructural zones. The base material is the most susceptible to intergranular corrosion because of the presence of continuous cathodic precipitates (Si and Q phases) at grain boundaries and the precipitate free zone along the grain boundaries. The coarsening of intergranular precipitates and the precipitation of Q′ phases in the grain bodies reduce intergranular corrosion susceptibility but introduce pitting corrosion in the heat-affected zone. The significant elimination of intergranular corrosion both in nugget zone and thermo-mechanically affected zone is related to the low volume fraction of intergranular precipitate. Microhardness variations depend on the evolution of intragranular precipitates. The dissolution and/or coarsening of the strengthening precipitates result in the softening within the welded zone.     

Microstructure and tensile properties of friction welded aluminum alloy AA7075-T6

Solid-state welding processes like friction welding and friction stir welding are now being actively considered for welding aluminum alloy AA7075. In this work, friction welding of AA7075-T6 rods of 13 mm diameter was investigated with an aim to understand the effects of process parameters on weld microstructure and tensile properties. Welds made with various process parameter combinations (incorporating Taguchi methods) were subjected to tensile tests. Microstructural studies and hardness tests were also conducted. The results show that sound joints in AA7075-T6 can be achieved using friction welding, with a joint efficiency of 89% in as-welded condition with careful selection of process parameters. The effects of process parameters are discussed in detail based on microstructural observations.     

Force response characteristics and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA2024 sheets

Process force and tensile properties in friction stir welding of AA2024 sheets were studied. Results show that the forces present a periodic variation with the same periodicity which is nearly equal to the time of one tool rotation, and thus it only depends on rotation speed. With increasing welding speed the forces increase gradually, while with increasing rotation speed the forces first decrease and then increase. Joints with superior strength-ductility synergy are produced at 900?rev?min^?1–300?mm?min^?1 and 1000?rev?min^?1–350?mm?min^?1. These joints experience nearly the same peak temperature and axial force. As heat input increases the failure initiates from the interface between nugget zone (NZ) and thermo-mechanically affected zone to heat-affected zone continuing to NZ.     

Influences of joint geometry on defects and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA6061-T4 T-joints

In this paper, AA6061-T4 T-joints with three different joint geometries of T-lap/T-butt-lap/T-butt were fabricated successfully by friction stir welding. The distributions and formation mechanisms of defects in friction stir welded (FSWed) T-joints were discussed through macro and micro-observations, respectively. Hardness profiles of the as-welded samples were also measured to evaluate the softening effect during the process. What’s more, influences of joint geometry and the traverse speed on the tensile properties of FSWed T-joints were investigated. All the experimental results indicate that tunnel defects and kissing bond are easily formed and vary significantly in T-joints of the three joint geometries. Defects are moderated to a large extent with decreasing the traverse speed, but the specific relationship to tensile properties is complicated. T-lap joints present the superior tensile properties along the skin direction among the three geometries, the same as T-butt joints along the stringer direction. All the as-welded samples almost fractured in the locations of softening zones and bonding surfaces.     

Analysis of process parameters effects on friction stir welding of dissimilar aluminum alloy to advanced high strength steel

Thin sheets of aluminum alloy 6061-T6 and one type of Advanced high strength steel, transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel have been successfully butt joined using friction stir welding (FSW) technique. The maximum ultimate tensile strength can reach 85% of the base aluminum alloy. Intermetallic compound (IMC) layer of FeAl or Fe₃Al with thickness of less than 1 μm was formed at the Al–Fe interface in the advancing side, which can actually contribute to the joint strength. Tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicate that the weld nugget can be considered as aluminum matrix composite, which is enhanced by dispersed sheared-off steel fragments encompassed by a thin intermetallic layer or simply intermetallic particles. Effects of process parameters on the joint microstructure evolution were analyzed based on mechanical welding force and temperature that have been measured during the welding process.     

Relationship between base metal properties and friction stir welding process parameters

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process for joining aluminum alloys and has been employed in aerospace, rail, automotive and marine industries for joining aluminium, magnesium, zinc and copper alloys. In FSW, the base metal properties such as yield strength, ductility and hardness control the plastic flow of the material under the action of rotating non-consumable tool. The FSW process parameters such as tool rotational speed, welding speed, axial force, etc. play a major role in deciding the weld quality. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to establish relationship between the base material properties and FSW process parameters. FSW joints have been made using five different grades of aluminium alloys (AA1050, AA6061, AA2024, AA7039 and AA7075) using different combinations of process parameters. Macrostructural analysis has been done to check the weld quality (defective or defect free). Empirical relationships have been established between base metal properties and tool rotational speed and welding speed, respectively. The developed empirical relationships can be effectively used to predict the FSW process parameters to fabricate defect free welds.     

On the double-side probeless friction stir spot welding of AA2198 Al-Li alloy

Double-side probeless friction stir spot welding(DP-FSSW) of AA2198 alloy was conducted to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties. Compared with common single-side probeless friction stir spot welding(P-FSSW), the plastic strain during DP-FSSW is nearly symmetrical with respect to the bondline to suppress the extension of hook defect, which is detrimental to the joint mechanical strength.With DP-FSSW, a fully metallurgically bonded region has formed due to severe plastic deformation at high temperatures. Tensile/shear tests show that the joint strength could exceed 8 kN, which is comparable to P-FSSW and refill FSSW, and all fractures happen in a shear failure mode as cracks extend along the interface of two sheets. The microhardness profile exhibits a uniform distribution along the thickness direction, in which the hook defect shows the lowest value.     

Defects and tensile properties of 6013 aluminum alloy T-joints by friction stir welding

In this paper, 6013-T4 T-joints were successfully fabricated with different welding parameters by friction stir welding in two different combination modes of skins and stringers. The distribution features and formation mechanisms of defects in T-joints were observed and analyzed. The effect of defects and welding parameters on tensile properties of T-joints was investigated. The result shows that the T-joint without tunnel defect only can be obtained with the traverse speed of 100 mm/min in this experiment, and the welding parameters influence the features and sizes of kissing bond defects. The fracture of T-joints along the shin is attributed to the kissing bond defect and the tunnel defect is the main factor affecting the tensile properties along the stringer.     

Nanomechanical properties of friction stir welded AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy

Lightweight alloys are of major concern, due to their functionality and applications in transport and industry applications. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process for joining aluminum and other metallic alloys and has been employed in aerospace, rail, automotive and marine industries. Compared to the conventional welding techniques, FSW produces joints which do not exhibit defects caused by melting. The objective of the present study is to investigate the surface hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) in friction stir welded aluminum alloy AA6082-T6. The findings of the present study reveal that the welding process softens the material, since the weld nugget is the region where the most deformations are recorded (dynamic recrystallization, production of an extremely fine, equiaxial structure), confirmed by optical microscopy and reduced nanomechanical properties in the welding zone. A yield-type pop-in occurs upon low loading and represents the start of phase transformation, which is monitored through a gradual slope change of the load-displacement curve. Significant pile-up is recorded during nanoindentation of the alloy through SPM imaging.     

Mechanical behaviour of AA 7475 friction stir welds with the kissing bond defect

Friction stir welding (FSW) is restricted to non-safety–critical aerospace components because there is no reliable method for detecting kissing bonds (KB), which may have a significant effect on fatigue life. The effects of KB defects on the tensile and fatigue properties of 7475-T7351 friction stir welds were quantitatively evaluated with respect to a reference weld without any flaws and a base material. Various KB defects were investigated with the aim of determining the defect size that does not have a significant influence on the fatigue life of joined 6.35-mm-thick plates. A critical value for the KB geometry appears to be a depth of 0.3 mm considering the influence on fatigue life for the investigated configurations. This paper also presents results from micromorphological analyses of the fatigue crack initiation from the KB and from the analysis of the weld cross-section microstructure.     

Friction stir welding of aluminium hollow extrusion: weld formation and mechanical properties

Novel friction stir welding (FSW) technique, characterised by big concave upper and small convex lower shoulders, for aluminium hollow extrusion was studied. Assisted with the lower shoulder, root flaws due to the lack of tool penetration have been eliminated. The tensile strength increased with increasing welding speed. As the welding speed increases from 50 to 200 mm min^?1, the width of the welding nugget zone (WNZ) decreases, and the ductile fractured location occurred at WNZ instead of heat affected zone (HAZ) adjacent to thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). The interface between the TMAZ and HAZ exhibited the lowest microhardness. The results indicated that the novel FSW method has the potential to join tubular structures and hollow profiles widely used in transportation industries.     

Process optimisation and mechanical properties of friction stir lap welds of 7075-T6 stringers on 2024-T3 skin

This paper focuses on the results of process optimisation and mechanical tests that were used to ascertain the feasibility of using friction stir welding (FSW) to join stringers to skin. The effects of process parameters on weld quality of 1.5-mm 7075-T6 stringers lap-joined on 2.3-mm 2024-T3 skins were investigated. Advancing and retreating side locations on the joint configuration were alternated to determine optimal design arrangements. The effects of travel and rotation speeds on weld quality and defect generation were also investigated. Weld quality was assessed by optical microscopy and bending tests. It was found that: (i) the increase of the welding speed or the decrease of the rotational speed resulted in a reduction of the hooking size and top plate thinning but did not eliminated them, (ii) double pass welds by overlapping the advancing sides improved significantly the weld quality by overriding the hooking defect, and (iii) change of the rotational direction for a counter clockwise with a left-threaded probe eliminated the top sheet thinning defect. Subsequently, FSW lap joints were produced using optimum conditions and underwent extensive mechanical testing program. Several assembly configurations including discontinuous and continuous welds as well as single and double pass welds were produced. The results obtained for cyclic fatigue performance of FSW panels are compared with riveted lap joints of identical geometry. S–N curves, bending behaviour, failure locations and defect characterisation are also discussed. It was found that: (i) the tensile strength of FSW joints approached that of the base material but with a significant reduction in the fatigue life, (ii) the probe plunge and removal locations served as the key crack nucleation sites in specimens with discontinuous welds, and (iii) double pass welds with overlapping advancing sides showed outstanding fatigue life and very good tensile properties. The present work provided some valuable insight into both the fabrication and application of FSW on stringer/skin lap joints.     

Microstructure, local and global mechanical properties of friction stir welds in aluminium alloy 6005A-T6

The effect of the welding speed on the microstructure, local and overall mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints has been investigated in the aluminium alloy 6005A-T6. The fine hardening precipitation within the heat-affected zone has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Post-welding heat treatments have been applied to obtain indications on the level of solid solution supersaturation in the as welded state. The local mechanical behaviour was determined using thin specimens extracted from various regions of the weld. The overall properties were measured on samples cut perpendicular to the weld. Specific attention was devoted to the relationship between the local microstructure and local hardening properties in the weakest region, which govern the overall strength and ductility of the welds.     

Process parameter influence on defects and tensile properties of friction stir welded T-joints on AA6061-T4 sheets

In this study, AA6061-T4 T-joints characterized by combination modes of T-lap and T-butt were fabricated by friction stir welding with different processing parameters. Defects distributed in the obtained specimens were examined by using a stereo microscope and an optical microscope. Process parameter influence on the distribution and the size of original joint line with severe deformation (OJLwSD) defect was investigated. The microstructures and hardness profiles in the T-joints were studied. Influence factors on T-joints’ tensile properties were discussed. In addition, the fracture mode and the fracture surface of the failure samples were observed and discussed as well.