Influence of material characteristics on plastomechanics of the fsw process for T-joints

Abstract The potential of friction stir welding (FSW) has thoroughly been investigated by several authors, however their focus has primarily been on butt joints. T-joints are of paramount interest for transportation industries especially due to their capacity to straighten panels. Welding of T-joints is very challenging due to thin walls, poor location of the rib–web interface and the requirements for corner-fillets. This paper investigates FSW of T-joints of two popular aluminum alloys, i.e. 2024-T4 and 6082-T6, and the role played by the material characteristics on joining. First, an experimental study is carried out with specially designed fixture to determine the effect of process condi…

Design of the friction stir welding tool using the continuum based FEM model

In friction stir welding (FSW), the welding tool geometry plays a fundamental role in obtaining desirable microstructures in the weld and the heat-affected zones, and consequently improving strength and fatigue resistance of the joint. In this paper, a FSW process with varying pin geometries (cylindrical and conical) and advancing speeds is numerically modeled, and a thermo-mechanically coupled, rigid-viscoplastic, fully 3D FEM analysis able to predict the process variables as well as the material flow pattern and the grain size in the welded joints is performed. The obtained results allow finding optimal tool geometry and advancing speed for improving nugget integrity of aluminum alloys.

Friction Stir Welding of Tailored Blanks: Investigation on Process Feasibility

Tailor welded blanks (TWBs) are conventionally produced by laser or traditional welding processes. In either case, the joints are created by solid-liquid-solid phase transformations that result in undesirable microstructures and tensile residual stresses detrimental to joint performance. This study investigates feasibility of an alternate joining process, friction stir welding (FSW). The joining of AA7075-T6 blanks of different thickness is investigated through FE analyses and controlled experiments. It is found that for a successful joint, the welding parameters have to be carefully designed so that the resulting metal flow and the temperature history during FSW are consistent for the two …

In-process heat treatments to improve FS-welded butt joints

Friction-stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new but already well known solid-state welding process whose main advantage with respect to fusion welding processes is the possibility to successfully weld light alloys, traditionally considered difficult to weld or unweldable. Despite the good mechanical performances that can be obtained, there exists the possibility to further improve the joints' effectiveness through post-welding heat treatments that are however time and cost-expensive and, therefore, not best suited for industrial applications. In the present paper, the authors report the results of an experimental campaign, developed on FSW of AA7075-T6 aluminum alloy, aimed to investigate t…

Analysis of the joint strength in FSW of AA7075-T6 butt joints

Material Flow in FSW of AA7075 - T6 butt joint: numerical simulations and experimental verifications

Friction stir welding (FSW) has reached a large interest in the scientific community and in the recent years also in the industrial environment, owing to the advantages of such solid state welding process with respect to the classic ones. Advanced finite element method tools are needed in order to develop an effective engineering of the processes; quantitative results can be acquired from numerical simulations once the basic information such as the material flow is certain. A 3D Lagrangian implicit coupled rigid viscoplastic model has already been developed by the authors to simulate FSW of butt joints. In the present paper the material flow in the FSW of AA7075–T6 butt joints is investigat…

Material Flow in FSW of T-joints: Experimental and Numerical Analysis

In the paper the authors present the results of both an experimental and a numerical campaign focused on the analysis of the occurring material flow in the FSW of T joints of aluminum alloys. In particular to investigate the metal flow experimental tests and observations has been developed utilizing a thin foil of copper as marker placed between the skin and the stringer. In this way, the actual metal flow occurring during the FSW of T-joints has been highlighted together with the real bonding surface. The acquired information is definitively useful in order to choose effective set of process parameters, improving the process mechanics and avoiding the insurgence of defects.

On the material flow in fsw of T-joints: influence of geometrical and tecnological parameters

Friction stir welding (FSW) now definitively reached a large interest in the scientific community and what is more in the industrial environment, due to the advantages of such solid state welding process with respect to the classic ones. The latter aspects are relevant also with reference to joints characterized by a complex geometry. What is more, advanced FEM tools permit to develop effective engineering of the processes; quantitative results can be acquired from numerical simulations once basic information, as the process mechanics and the material flow, are certain. Material flow plays a fundamental role in FSW since it determines the effectiveness of the joints or, in turn, the insurge…

Finite Element Studies On Friction Stir Welding Processes of Tailored Blanks

Although friction stir welding (FSW) has been successfully used to join materials that are difficult-to-weld or unweldable by fusion welding methods, it is still in its early development stage and, therefore, its potential has not been fully exploited yet. FSW appears to be a very promising process for tailor-welded blanks to overcome the difficulties encountered in traditional fusion welding processes for obtaining a sound welding with good nugget integrity. In this paper the friction stir welding process for tailored blanks of aluminum alloy is investigated through a FEM developed by the authors. In particular FSW for sheets with different thicknesses is studied. For each setup a differen…

New Materials Design Through Friction Stir Processing Techniques

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) has reached a large interest in the scientific community and in the last years also in the industrial environment, due to the advantages of such solid state welding process with respect 1(o) the classic ones. The complex material flow occurring during the process plays a fundamental role in such solid state welding process, since it determines dramatic changes in the material microstructure of the so called weld nugget, which affects the effectiveness of the joints. What is more, Friction Stir Processing (FSP) is mainly being considered for producing high-strain-rate-superplastic (HSRS) microstructure in commercial aluminum alloys. The aim of the present research…

Dual phase titanium alloy hot forging process design: experiments and numerical modeling

Titanium alloys are considered desirable materials when both good mechanical properties and weight reduction are required at the same time. This class of materials is widely used in those fields (aeronautics, aerospace) in which common steels and light-weight materials, e.g., aluminum alloys, are not able to satisfy all operative service conditions. During the last decade, forging of titanium alloys has attracted greater attention from both industrial and scientific/academic researchers because of their potential in providing a near net shaped part with minimal need for machining. In this paper, a numerical model of the forging sequences for a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy aerospace component is…

Influence of geometrical ratios in forgeability of complex shapes during hot forging of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy

Abstract Titanium alloys are considered desirable materials when both mechanical properties and weight reduction are requested at the same time. This class of materials is widely used in application fields, like aeronautical, in which common steels and light-weight materials, like aluminum alloys, are not able to satisfy all operative service conditions. Most of manufacturing processes of titanium alloy components are based on machining operations, which allow obtaining very accurate final shapes but, at the same time, are affected by several disadvantage like material waste and general production costs. During the last decade, the forging processes for titanium alloys have attracted greate…

Innovative user defined density profile approach to fsw of aluminium foam

Metallic foams are one of the most exciting materials in the world of mechanical industry due to their reduced mass and the good mechanical, thermal and acoustic characteristics. Consequently, their application, is increasing day by day even with the important drawbacks that reduce their suitability and diffusion such as high manufacturing cost and difficulty in processing. An innovative approach is outlined in this paper that enables the production of complex shapes taking advantage of deformation processing and friction stir welding (FSW). The aim is to create customized tailored manufactured parts. The cellular construction of foams makes this approach rather challenging as the cell wall…

Material flow in fsw of aa7075-t6 butt joints: continuous dynamic recrystallization phenomena

In the paper the continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) phenomena occurring in the FSW of AA7075-T6 butt joints is investigated at the varying of the most relevant technological and geometrical parameters. In particular, both experiments and numerical simulations obtained utilizing a 3D Lagrangian implicit, coupled, rigid-viscoplastic model have been developed on FSW butt joints. The resulting microstructure at the core of the weldings is correlated to the material flow occurring during the FSW process.

A continuum based fem model for friction stir welding—model development

Although friction stir welding (FSW) has been successfully used to join materials that are difficult-to-weld or unweldeable by fusion welding methods, it is still in its early development stage and, therefore, a scientific knowledge based predictive model is of significant help for thorough understanding of FSW process. In this paper, a continuum based FEM model for friction stir welding process is proposed, that is 3D Lagrangian implicit, coupled, rigid-viscoplastic. This model is calibrated by comparing with experimental results of force and temperature distribution, then is used to investigate the distribution of temperature and strain in heat affect zone and the weld nugget. The model c…

On the thermo-mechanical loads and the resultant residual stresses in friction stir processing operations

In friction stir welding and processing both a thermal flux and a mechanical action are exerted on the material determining metallurgical evolutions, changes in the mechanical behaviour and a complex residual stress state. In the paper, the metallurgical changes are examined through numerical simulation and experiments to highlight and distinguish the effects of thermal and mechanical loadings. A particular focus is made on the residual stresses generated during the stir processing of AA7075-T6 aluminium blanks. The predictions of FE model are validated by experimental measurements. Lastly, this paper presents an in-process quenching of the processed blanks for improved mechanical propertie…

CDRX modelling in friction stir welding of AA7075-T6 aluminum alloy: analytical approaches

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is an energy efficient and environmentally “friendly” (no fumes, noise, or sparks) welding process, during which the workpiece are welded together in a solid-state joining process at a temperature below the melting point of the workpiece material under a combination of extruding and forging. Significant microstructural evolution takes place during FSW: in particular continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) phenomena result in a highly refined grain structure in the weld nugget and strongly affect the final joint resistance. In the paper two different analytical models aimed to the determination of the average grain size due to continuous dynamic recry…

Mechanical and metallurgical effects of in process cooling during friction stir welding of AA7075-T6 butt joints

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and numerical investigation focused on the effects of an in process water cooling treatment aimed at improving the final quality of friction stir welded butt joints in terms of mechanical resistance and metallurgy of the processed material. Micro and macro observations, together with the evolution of an already developed finite element tool, have been used to analyze specimens obtained under different process conditions. Water cooling was found to enhance joint strength, reducing the material softening usually observed in the thermo-mechanically affected zone area, with no detrimental effect on nugget integrity.

Improving friction stir welding of blanks of different thicknesses

Friction stir welding (FSW) appears to be a promising process even in the welding of blanks of different thicknesses. Actually, such particular tailor welded blanks (TWBs) are usually characterized by a reduction in ductility due to the utilized fusion welding process. In this paper the authors, starting from a preliminary feasibility study, investigate the possibility to improve the mechanical performances of friction stir welded blanks of aluminum alloy with different thicknesses. Both experiments and a FE analyses are developed for a few case studies with different thickness ratios between the blanks. The numerical investigations are performed with the aim to highlight the material tempe…