Influence of tool geometry on the formation of welded joint during friction stir welding of the AA5083 aluminum alloy

Abstract

One of the important parameters influencing the formation of a weld during friction stir welding is the tool geometry, which affects the processes of heat generation and stirring of metals in their connection zone. These processes influence the formation of a high quality and strength welded joint without continuity defects. In this regard, it is relevant to analyze the influence of tool geometry on the welding mode parameters, at which the welded joint is formed without continuity defects, as well as on the welded joint strength under static tension. The work considers the influence of the cylindrical and conical shapes of the tool pin, as well as the conical shape of the pin with a thread on its outer surface and a spiral groove on the end surface of the tool shoulder on the welding mode parameters, at which the welded joint is formed without continuity defects. The study shows that changing the shape of the pin working surface from cylindrical to a conical one had no effect on the range of welding mode parameters, at which the welded joint is formed without continuity defects. It has been found that the presence of a thread on the pin outer surface and a groove on the end surface of a tool shoulder allows producing welded joints without continuity defects in a wider range of welding mode parameters compared to a simpler tool geometry. The macrostructure of the resulting welded joints was considered. It has been found that the studied tool geometry has almost no influence on the maximum strength values of welded joints produced by friction stir welding and reaches 95 % of the strength of the base metal.

Keywords

• friction stir welding
• aa5083
• tool geometry
• strength of the welded joint without continuity defects