Design of a Novel Integrated Ultrasonic Tool Holder for Friction Stir Welding

Ultrasonic vibration used in friction stir welding (FSW) has shown advantages in reducing welding defects and improving welding quality. How to design an ultrasonic tool holder is a challenge because the holder is rotating in a confined space. In this study, we design a 20 kHz integrated ultrasonic tool holder in FSW. This novel configuration can be applied in general machining equipment. The elastic modulus is measured by non-destructive acoustic testing to attain the precise frequency. Three FSW transducers with alloy steel are designed by the modal analysis and the transducer prototypes are fabricated. The effect of pre-tightening force on transducer frequency is investigated, where the prestress of the piezoelectric stack instead of the torque is tested to achieve an optimal working frequency. The vibration of the transducers is measured by a Doppler Vibrometer System. It proved that the resonant frequencies are well consistent between simulation model and the experiment by the elastic modulus testing and the pre-tightening optimization. Moreover, the experiment demonstrates that the vibration amplitude is significantly different, even in a slight difference of steel material properties are adopted. The dynamic performance of the designed transducers is acceptable by the vibration measurement.

Influence of tool rotational speed on the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of precipitation-hardened Aluminium 6061 butt joint during friction stir welding

The present investigation intends to interpret the effect of tool rotational speed on the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution in Aluminium 6061-T6 alloy during friction stir welding. A higher value of tool rotation produces more hardness at the nugget zone, which is attributed to the higher intensity of reprecipitation at higher rpm, revealed by transmission electron microscopy. The nugget zone is revealed as a nearly precipitate-free region, while the thermo-mechanically affected zone contains coarse precipitates, deformed and dynamically recovered grains with a few recrystallized grains. Significant reduction in grain size in the stirred zone is also a key finding. The observations depict the dependence of microstructure, and thus mechanical behaviour on tool rotational speed. A specific combination of process parameters has been determined from experiments, which corresponds to the maximum joint efficiency.

Process Relationship in High-Stress Friction Coupled with Complex Shaped Counterbody and Friction Stir Welding Al-Mg-Sc-Zr Alloy

Model research tests of plastic deformation, fragmentation and flow of aluminum alloy material of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr system under high loaded friction in pair with a steel counterbody of a complex shape and comparison of the obtained result with the structure formed by friction stir welding have been carried out. The conducted studies show that the structure formed by extrusion of the material from the friction zone and its compaction in the channel of the counterbody is, in general, close in structure to the structure formed by friction stir welding of similar material. The distinguishing features of the structure formed in the model experiments on friction include the introduction into the stirring zone of material with deformed large-crystal structure, increased grain size of the stirring zone, the presence of defects and differences in the geometry of the stirring zone.

An Evaluation of Optimal Friction Stir Welding Factors (FSWF) For Yellow Brass 405-20

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a green, environmentally amicable, and solid-state joining technology. FSW can successfully weld a wide range of materials (similar/dissimilar parent materials) including aluminum, copper, steel, different alloys from these materials, plastics, composites. FSW of brass has already been accomplished by fewer researchers. In this research, yellow brass 405-20 is, therefore, welded with FSW that was never welded before. In this study, tool material utilized was M2 HSS that was also novel. Effect of two friction stir weld factors (FSWF), rotational speed (RS) and traverse speed (TS), was found on three output parameters i.e., weld temperature, weld strength and weld hardness. Weld temperature developed, was found to be 63.72% of melting point of base metal. A significant improvement in friction stir weld strength (FSWS) was also measured that was found to be 106.37% of the base brass strength. Finally, weld hardness was measured which was found to be 87.80% of original brass hardness. Based on main effects, optimal FSW factors were found to be 1450 rpm and 60 mm/min resulting interestingly in optimal temperature, optimal weld strength, and optimal hardness. Rotational speed (RS) was found to be significant to affect the weld temperature only at the friction stir weld zone (FSWZ) with the highest percent contribution (PCR) of 65.69%. However, PCR of transverse speed was found to be maximum for affecting weld strength as compared to its PCR towards both weld temperature and weld hardness. Current study was also deepened by microscopic investigation.