T. K. Senthil Kumar, Anna University - Trichy, Tiruchirappalli, India; V. Balasubramanian, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, India
This paper reveals the influences of various post weld heat treatment procedures on fatigue crack growth behaviour of friction stir welded AA6061 aluminum alloy joints. Rolled plates of 6 mm thick AA6061 aluminum alloy were used to fabricate the joints. Solution treatment, artificial aging treatment and combination of both were given to the welded joints. Tensile properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and joint efficiency were evaluated. Microstructure of the welded joints was analysed using optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. Centre cracked tensile specimens were fabricated to evaluate the fatigue crack growth behaviour of friction stir welded joints. Servo hydraulic controlled, fatigue testing machine with constant amplitude loading was used to evaluate the fatigue crack growth parameters. A simple artificial aging treatment was found to be more beneficial than other treatment methods to enhance the tensile and fatigue properties of the friction stir welded AA6061 aluminum alloy joints. Key words: Aluminum alloy; Friction stir welding; Solution treatment; Artificial Aging; Fatigue properties.
Summary: This paper reveals the influences of various post weld heat treatment procedures on fatigue crack growth behaviour of friction stir welded AA6061 aluminum alloy joints. Solution treatment, artificial aging treatment and combination of both were given to the welded joints. A simple artificial aging treatment was found to be more beneficial than other treatment methods to enhance the tensile and fatigue properties of the friction stir welded AA6061 aluminum alloy joints.
