In this paper, fatigue behaviour of friction stir spot welded joints in Al-Mg-Si aluminium alloy was investigated. Fatigue tests were conducted using lap-shear specimens at a stress ratio R = 0.1. It was found that fatigue fracture morphology was dependent on load level. When high load was applied, debonding and opening deformation took place along the boundary between the upper and lower sheets around the weld nugget. The opening deformation caused stress concentration, which resulted in fatigue crack initiation at the edge of the nugget followed by crack growth through the mixed zone (MZ) until final fracture. When low load was applied, fatigue crack initiated at the edge of the nugget and propagated through the sheet thickness and grew to the width direction. Based on experimental observation of the weld zone, fatigue fracture mechanism of friction stir spot welded joint was discussed.
In this paper, the effect of post heat treatment on fatigue behaviour of friction stir spot welded Al-Mg-Si aluminium alloy was investigated. The microstructure of the weld zone was classified into two regions: stir zone (SZ) and mixed zone (MZ), where fine equiaxed grains due to dynamic recrystallization were observed. Two kinds of post heat treatment, namely aging and T6 treatment, were applied to the as-welded joints. The grains in the SZ and MZ were extremely enlarged only by T6 treatment, but some fine grains still remained near the boundary of MZ. Fatigue tests were conducted using lap-shear specimens at a stress ratio R = 0.1. Post heat treatments exhibited little influence on fatigue strength, but fatigue fracture morphology was dependent on both load level and post heat treatment. At high applied loads, fatigue fracture took place through the MZ in the as-welded and aged joints, while along the boundary of MZ in the T6 treated joint. At low applied loads, fatigue crack initiated at the edge of the nugget and then propagated through the upper sheet in the as-welded joint, while the lower sheet in the aged and T6 treated joints. The dependence of fracture morphology on post heat treatment was attributed to the change of microstructures and hardness distribution around the nugget by post heat treatment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.