Effect of heat conduction on machine parameters of friction stir welded aluminium alloy

Abstract

W.M. Thomas at The Welding Institute of UK in 1991 invented friction stir welding for the welding of aluminium alloys and as time progress use of light weight material and others which were difficult to weld by other conventional method increasing continuously in the field of aerospace, shipbuilding and marine, robotics and computers and other industries which motivated researchers for development and progress in friction stir welding. Friction stir welding method involve a non consumable tool with specially designed pin and shoulder is rotating and inserted into the faying surfaces and traverse along the line of joint, by this adiabatic shearing and mechanical mixing welded the material. In friction stir welding material is heated at elevated temperature of the base material for which heat generation is an important factor. Less heat reduces the rheology and mixing of material whereas more heat reduces the strength of the welded material. This research is for obtain the suitable temperature for proper welding of material by friction stir welding. The cylindrical tool shoulder and pin of diameter 17, 19 and 22 mm at tool rotation rate of 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 rpm and tool traverse speed of 15, 20 and 25 mm/min is used to weld of 1,100 aluminium alloy. Experimental result implied that more heat is generated at higher tool rotation rate and tool shoulder diameter and less heat generate at high tool traverse speed. A3B1C1 is the optimum parameter. Tool shoulder diameter 22 mm, tool rotation rate 2,000 rpm and tool traverse speed 15 mm/min is the best parameter among all readings.