Friction stir welding of aluminium alloys: An overview of experimental findings – Process, variables, development and applications

Author(s):  
Pratik H Shah ◽  
Vishvesh J Badheka

The never ending appetite of the mankind to produce more and more competitive products results in continuous development of newer and newer manufacturing processes. One of such a kind, a solid state welding process highly appreciated for joining of a variety of aluminium and copper alloys, is friction stir welding. The process is also an accomplished method for joining dissimilar materials efficiently. The process finds its major application for joining hard-to-weld metals, especially the precipitation hardenable aluminium alloys and is widely adopted by industries for the welding of such aluminium alloys. However, the process has still not found an economical way for welding of steels and hence found limited applications in industries for welding steels. This paper aims at providing a comprehensive review of the work undertaken in the field of friction stir welding and provides an insight into the friction stir welding of aluminium alloys. The article pays critical attention and analytical evaluation of classification of aluminium alloys, friction stir welding process parameters, the mechanical testing and properties of the friction stir welding joints, macrostructure and microstructure evolution during friction stir welding, friction stir welding defects and industrial applications of the process. The friction stir welding process variants are discussed as well. Special accentuation has been given to (i) effect of friction stir welding parameters on the microstructure evolved and thus the ultimate mechanical properties (viz. tensile strength, hardness, fatigue strength, fracture toughness and residual stresses), (ii) the texture formation, microstructure refinement and the role of intermetallics. However, studies related to welding of dissimilar aluminium alloys, temperature, and heat transfer modeling and material flow are out of the scope of this paper. Finally, the directions of future research are examined.

Author(s):  
Akshansh Mishra

IMicro friction stir welding (µFSW) process is mainly adapted from the Friction Stir Welding Process. This process is mainly used for joining dissimilar materials. Micro friction stir welding (µFSW) find its applications in thin walled structures, electrical, electronic and micro-mechanical assemblies. The significant challenges are faced when we downscale to achieve µFSW. This paper addresses the current state of the understanding and development of Micro friction stir welding. This paper further outlines the results achieved after Micro friction stir processing of Aluminium alloys, Copper alloys and Zinc alloys.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sandeep ◽  
D. Sudhakara ◽  
G. Prasanthi

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process used for welding similar and dissimilar materials. The process is widely used because it does not have common problems such as solidification and liquefaction cracking associated with the fusion welding techniques. The objective of the present research is to find the best combination of friction stir welding process parameters to join aluminium 5052 and 6061 alloy materials. The combination of process parameters is helpful to improve ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, percentage of elongation and hardness of welded joint. To achieve the research objective taguchi based grey analysis was used. The optimum process parameters were found be at rotational speed is 1400 rpm, transverse speed of 100 mm/min and axial force is at 11 KN.


2021 ◽  
Vol 890 ◽  
pp. 66-75
Author(s):  
Lia Nicoleta Boțilă ◽  
Radu Cojocaru ◽  
Cristian Ciucă ◽  
Victor Verbiţchi

Considering the remarkable results obtained by using friction stir welding process (FSW), ISIM Timisoara has developed research programs for the knowledge and development of processing processes based on the FSW process principle.The paper presents a synthesis of the researches and the results obtained within some of research projects carried out by ISIM Timisoara, regarding possibilities of using some of processes derived from the FSW process, which has focused mainly on two directions (areas): surface engineering (materials surface processing) and joining by friction riveting. In the field of surfaces engineering, there are presented some results that represent own contributions of ISIM Timisoara, regarding: friction stir processing as well as coating with functional layers from lightweight alloys of steel substrates (by friction with consumable tool).Regarding friction riveting, two methods are presented: classic friction riveting, respectively friction riveting with hybrid effect (mechanical grip and friction welding).The paper shows very good results obtained to FSP processing (for cast aluminum alloys), to friction riveting with hybrid effect (for aluminum and copper alloys) and to friction riveting (for aluminum alloy), but also some limitations of these friction processing methods.Also in the paper are presented new research directions that are currently being addressed, respectively that will be addressed in the next period at ISIM Timisoara, regarding new variants of application of FSW welding.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1146 ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Cojocaru ◽  
Cristian Ciucă ◽  
Lia Nicoleta Boţilă ◽  
Victor Verbiţchi ◽  
Ion Aurel Perianu

In the paper are presented some preliminary results regarding the possibilities of using of the friction stir welding process (FSW) and FSW assisted with TIG (FSW – TIG) welding for joining of the electrical components in the automotive industry. Couples of dissimilar materials approached in experiments were Aluminium EN AW 1200 and Copper Cu99, with thicknesses in conformity with real cases in the production process. The results obtained for butt welding an overlap welding of different thicknesses of materials (aluminium thickness s1 = 2mm and copper thickness s2 = 5mm) are presented. There are some general conclusions regarding the possibilities of joining the two materials under the specified conditions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 636-637 ◽  
pp. 1150-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Louro ◽  
Carlos Leitão ◽  
Helena Gouveia ◽  
Altino Loureiro ◽  
Dulce Maria Rodrigues

The task of obtaining suitable welding parameters for the friction stir welding process is often a difficult one, due to the lack of published data and the fact that the exact mechanism by which the process operates has not yet been fully determined. Therefore, suitable welding parameters often need to be obtained by using extensive, time consuming and expensive experimental methods. The work detailed in this paper pertains to the use of the Taguchi method as a mean to reduce the disadvantages of these experimental methods, more specifically, their cost. The Taguchi method accomplishes this task by substantially reducing the number of welding trials that are needed to obtain suitable welding parameters. This reduction leads to the parameters being obtained more rapidly and at a substantially smaller cost. In this paper a procedure for applying the Taguchi method to the friction stir welding process is presented as well as its application to the welding of a specific component. The method was applied to the welding of 4mm thick AA5083-H111 plates in a butt joint configuration, which constitutes one of the most common industrial welding scenarios. The purpose of the experimental tests was to maximize the welding speed whilst ensuring an acceptable welding quality. The quality of the welds was determined through visual inspection and tensile and bending tests. The application of the Taguchi method allowed, with a relatively small number of experimental welds, to provide some insight into the manner by which the parameters should be altered in order to optimize the process.


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