Influence of themo-mechanical treatments and microstructural state on the fatigue behaviour of a weald seam: case of API X60 steel

The aim of this work is the study of the fatigue behaviour of API X60 steel and the influence of thermal and mechanical treatments. The evaluation of the integrity and safety of welded structures dictates the approach taken in this research. The microstructural observations on the different zones of the weld seam indicates that the variation of heterogeneous structure is a progressive destruction of the strips of lamination which cause a new phase leading to a drop in the mechanical properties requiring treatment after welding. The fatigue cracking rate diverges beyond the threshold of DK, but no deviation of the crack from its propagation axis was noticed, which confirms the correct choice of filler metal over that of the base metal with an overmatching M = 1.1, and the treatments applied to the structure. This fatigue cracking rate transversal to the welding direction initially presents an aspect similar to that of BM but registers a delay as soon as the crack tip enters the second zone (HAZ) then it progresses rapidly. This evolution is characterized by a disturbance due to the repeated change of microstructure.

The Evolution of the Nugget Zone for Dissimilar AA6061/AA7075 Joints Fabricated via Multiple-Pass Friction Stir Welding

AA6061 and AA7075 aluminum alloys were successfully joined by using single-pass and multiple-pass friction stir welding techniques after which the effects on the nugget zone evolution from a second overlapping pass and its welding direction, were investigated. In comparison to single-pass friction stir welding, the application of a second overlapping pass prolonged the dynamic recrystallization time, and the grains of the nugget zone became finer with increased high angle grain boundaries. Moreover, reversing the welding direction of the second overlapping pass enhanced the vertical flow of materials, increasing the strain of the friction stir welding in the nugget zone. As a result, the efficiency of the grain refinement and mixture of dissimilar materials during the second overlapping pass were significantly elevated. The tensile strength of the nugget zone was improved after the second overlapping pass due to both the grain refinement and mechanical interlocking of the AA6061/AA7075 alloys. The nugget zone, which was fabricated via the multiple-pass friction stir welding technique using an opposite welding direction, exhibited a 23% increase in yield strength as compared to the sample using the single-pass friction stir welding technique.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Ni-Al Bronze Parts Using Cold Metal Transfer Process

In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the SG-CuAl8Ni6 Ni-Al bronze straight wall were studied, which was fabricated by the cold metal transfer (CMT) arc additive manufacturing technology. This Ni-Al bronze cladding layer of SG-CuAl8Ni6 is composed mainly of α-Cu, residual β phase, rich Pb phase and κ phase. The microstructure of this multilayer single-channel Ni-Al bronze straight wall circulating presents the overall periodic law, which changes from fine cellular crystals, columnar crystals to dendritic crystals with the increase of the distance from the substrate. The Vickers hardness value of the Ni-Al bronze straight wall decreases with the distance of substrate are between 155 and 185 HV0.5. The microhardness and elastic modulus of the Ni-Al bronze specimen are 1.57 times and 1.99 times higher than these of the brass matrix, respectively. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the straight wall in the welding direction and 45° downward-sloping is greater than that of about 550 MPa in the stacking direction, and the elongation value in the welding direction is the highest. With the increase in interlayer temperature, the grain size increased gradually, and the tensile strength decreases slightly.

Effect of Welding Orientation in Angular Distortion in Multipass GMAW

The use of the welding process on an industrial scale has become significant over the years and is currently among the main processes for joining metallic materials. Along the weld, structural changes occur in the vicinity of the joint. These thermal stresses and geometric distortions are mostly undesirable and are complex to predict with precision. Using S235JR steel as the base material, laboratory experiments were carried out using the multipass GMAW process, with the aim of investigating the influence of the welding direction on angular distortion. To measure the distortions, a methodology was applied using equipment to identify the coordinates in the operational space with metrological precision. Through metrological and statistical analyses, we found that the orientation factor significantly influenced the final distortions and that the alternated orientation sequence resulted in less distortions.

On Additive Manufactured AlSi10Mg to Wrought AA6060-T6: Characterisation of Optimal- and High-Energy Magnetic Pulse Welding Conditions

This novel research aims to examine the macro and microstructural bonding region development during magnetic pulse welding (MPW) of dissimilar additive manufactured (AM) laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) AlSi10Mg rod and AA6060-T6 wrought tube, using both optimal- and high-energy welding conditions. For that purpose, various joint characterisation methods were applied. It is demonstrated that high-quality hermetic welds are achievable with adjusted MPW process parameters. The macroscale analysis has shown that the joint interfaces are deformed to a waveform shape; the interface is starting relatively planar, with waves forming and growing in the welding direction. The observed thickening of the flyer’s wall after welding is the result of its diametral inward deformation, taking place during the process. A slight increase in microhardness was adjacent to the faying interfaces; a higher increase was measured on the AlSi10Mg material side, while a smaller one was observed on the AA6060 side. Along the wavy interfaces, resolidified “pockets” of material or occasionally discontinuous short layers exhibiting different morphologies, were detected. The jet residues are typically located towards the end of the weld, confirming a temperature rise that exceeds the melting temperature of both alloys. Far from the weld zone, extremely thin-film deposits were clearly observed on the inner flyer surfaces. The formation of isolated Si particles and thin-film deposits may point out that the local increase in temperatures leads to melting or even evaporation vaporisation of superficial layers from the colliding parts. It is worth noting that this type of jet residue was discovered for the first time in the present research. The current research work is expected to provide an understanding of weld formation mechanisms of additively manufactured parts to conventional wrought parts conforming to existing wrought/wrought weld knowledge.

Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Ni-Al-Bronze Alloy Fabricated through Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing with Ni-Al-Bronze Alloy Fabricated through Casting

This study compared the mechanical properties of the NAB (Ni-Al-bronze) material fabricated using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology with those of the cast NAB. Using a CMT (cold metal transfer) welding process, this study analyzed the bead shape for six welding conditions, determined an appropriate bead shape, and fabricated a square bulk NAB material using the bead shape. For a mechanical properties comparison, the study obtained two test specimens per welding direction from the fabricated bulk NAB material, and compared those with the cast NAB materials. In the tensile test, the deposited NAB material showed significantly better results than the cast NAB; furthermore, the deposited NAB material showed better performance than the cast NAB material in the Vickers hardness test, impact test and wear test. In addition, the deposited NAB showed anisotropy depending on the welding direction, and showed high tensile strength, hardness and shock absorption in the longitudinal direction of the welding line.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Friction Stir Welding for Aluminum Alloy (2024-T3)

In this research, a multi-response optimization based on Taguchi method is proposed for friction stir welding (FSW) process for (2024-T3) aluminum alloy. Three different shoulder diameters of tools with tapered pin geometry of (12, 14 and 14 mm) with variable rotation speed (710, 1000 and 1400 rpm) and welding speed of (40, 56 and 80 mm/min), three different tilting angles of (1, 2 and 3 degree) and three welding direction of (1, 2 and 3 passes). The results of this work showed the single optimization by using (Taguchi method) at the optimum condition for the tensile strength and yield strength were (365 MPa) and (258 MPa) respectively; at the parameters: shoulder diameter (14 mm), rotation speed (1400 rpm), linear speed (40 mm/min), tilting angle ((3°) for tensile strength and (1°) for yield strength) and welding direction (3 passes). The results of multi-response optimization for (FSW) process at the optimum condition for tensile strength and yield strength were (371 MPa) and (268 MPa), respectively; at the parameters: shoulder diameter (14 mm), rotation speed (1400 rpm), linear speed (40 mm/min), tilting angle (3°) and welding direction (3 passes).

The influence of welding speed on mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints of AA2024 T351 aluminum alloy

The aim of this study is to analyze how the process parameters affect the mechanical properties of butt joints obtained by friction stir welding (FSW). The experimental study was performed by the FSW of sheets having a thickness equal to 6 mm and made of aluminum alloys AA2024 T351, varying the process parameters, namely rotational speed and welding speed. The following welding parameters were used: the rotation speed of the tool did not change and amounted to 750 rpm, and the welding speed was 73, 116,150 mm / min. The welds were obtained without the presence of errors and with an acceptable flat surface of the compound. Tensile tests were performed orthogonally to the welding direction on specimens having the welding nugget placed in the middle of gage length. Vickers hardness measurement was conducted perpendicular to the welding direction, a cross-section of the weld joint. The hardness profiles were obtained along 3 horizontal and 63 vertical directions. Bend testing was carried out according to EN 910 The bending specimens were tested using face and root side of the joint in tension.

Studies on Quasi-Static and Fatigue Crack Propagation Behaviours in Friction Stir Welded Joints Using Peridynamic Theory

The friction stir welding (FSW) technology has been widely applied in aircraft structures. The heterogeneity of mechanical properties in weld and the hole in structure will lead the crack to turn. Peridynamics (PD) has inherent advantages in calculating crack turning. The peridynamic theory is applied to study the crack turning behaviour of FSW joints in this work. The compact tension (CT) samples with and without a hole are designed. The crack propagation testing under quasistatic and fatigue loads are performed. The peridynamic microplastic model is used and a three-stage fatigue calculation model is developed to simulate the quasistatic fracture and the fatigue crack growth. The results predicted by the peridynamic models are compared with the experimental ones. The effects of welding direction on quasistatic and fatigue crack propagation behaviours are investigated and the effect of hole position on crack path geometry is also studied. It is shown that the crack turning in FSWed CT samples can be captured by the peridynamic microplastic and the three-stage fatigue calculation models. The peridynamic crack growth rates agree with the experimental results. For CT specimen without a hole, the crack turns into the weld zone where the material is softer. The effect of welding direction on crack growth rates is not obvious. For CT sample with a hole, the crack propagation direction has been mainly controlled by the hole location and the welding direction has a slight effect on crack path.