Influence of process parameters on mechanical properties of friction stir welded 5083-O aluminum alloy

Abstract

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that has been demonstrating to be an excellent alternative for joining aluminum alloys. Therefore, this work presents the influence of process parameters (rotational speed, welding speed, and tool shoulder penetration) on mechanical properties of friction-stir-welded AA 5083-O. The welded joints were analyzed by metallography, tensile, and bending tests. Furthermore, the surface fracture of the best joint was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for verifying the major fracture mechanism. It was found that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the welds was similar to that of the base material. Moreover, the microhardness profiles were comparable along the regions considered. Also, the failures of both bending and tensile tests tend to occur on the advancing side.