International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Technology

Authors: G. Gopala Krishna, P. Ram Reddy, M. Manzoor Hussain

Abstract: Aluminium alloy applications are increasing day by day because of many attractive features. The combination of reduction of weight and cost is one of the attractive features of these alloys. Aluminium alloys are the best choice for the reduction of weight and as well as the cost and readily replicable steals in many applications. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process is an efficient and cost-effective process for welding aluminium and aluminium alloys. This process gaining more importance due to a better quality of the joint as it has no effect on the parent metal. This process utilises a non-consumable rotating tool to generate frictional heat between the tool and the abutting surface of the workpiece to accomplish the process. Being a is solid state welding process it offers various advantages like low distortion, absent of melt-related defects, high joint strength etc., as compared to conventional fusion welding processes. The present butt jointed FSW experimental work initially compared tensile properties of similar (AA6351 with AA6351) and dissimilar (AA6351 with AA5083). Later the effect of impurities (copper and brass) in thin sheet form (0.1 mm thick), inserted in between two similar aluminium alloy (AA6351 with AA6351) combinations during FSW. Tensile test results of similar aluminium alloy combinations using strip (copper and brass) material and without strip material were also compared.

Keywords: Friction Stir Welding, Tensile behaviour, Aluminium AA6351 alloy, Copper and Brass.