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

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 53; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.matdes.2013.06.061

0261-3069

Xiaopeng Hou, Xinqi Yang, Lei Cui, Guang Zhou,

Metal Forming Simulation Techniques

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.