Methods for improving joint strength of friction stud welded AA5083 alloy joints

ABSTRACT The joint strength and its improvement of AA5083 Al alloy joints fabricated by friction stud welding method were investigated. The diameter of the work and stud side specimens were 32.0 mm and 12.8 mm respectively, and those were friction welded. The appropriate welding condition for obtaining high tensile strength was established as follows: a friction speed of 17.5 s−1, a friction pressure of 80 MPa, a friction time of 1.6 s, and a forge pressure of 360 MPa. However, all joints fractured between the initial weld interface and the work or stud sides, i.e. the fracture did not occur in the base metal. It could be considered that the initial oxide film on the weld faying surface of the work side was not exhausted as the flash during the welding process. To obtain the joint having the fracture in the base metal, the suitable shape at the weld faying portion of the work side specimen was suggested as the groove shape. The inner diameter of the groove corresponded to the same diameter of the stud side, and that had a groove width of 3.0 mm with a groove depth of 1.0 mm. As a conclusion, AA5083 friction stud welded joint, which had the tensile strength of the base metal and the fracture in the base metal, could make with the appropriate welding condition. Furthermore, the weld faying portion at the work side should be in the suitable shape that urges the extrusion of the flash from this side.