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Probing weld quality monitoring in friction stir welding through characterization of signals by fractal theory

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Abstract

Providing solutions towards the improvisation of welding technologies is the recent trend in the Friction stir welding (FSW) process. We present a monitoring approach for ultimate tensile strength of the friction stir welded joints based on information extracted from process signals through implementing fractal theory. Higuchi and Katz algorithms were executed on current and tool rotational speed signals acquired during friction stir welding to estimate fractal dimensions. Estimated fractal dimensions when correlated with the ultimate tensile strength of the joints deliver an increasing trend with the increase in joint strength. It is observed that dynamicity of the system strengthens the weld joint, i.e., the greater the fractal dimension, the better will be the quality of the weld. Characterization of signals by fractal theory indicates that the single-valued indicator can be an alternative for effective monitoring of the friction stir welding process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Bipul Das, Swarup Bag & Sukhomay Pal

Authors
  1. Bipul Das
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  2. Swarup Bag
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  3. Sukhomay Pal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Swarup Bag.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Young Whan Park

Bipul Das is a Research Scholar in Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati. His research topic is related to monitoring of friction stir welding process.

Swarup Bag is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati. His research interest includes fusion welding processes, microjoining technologies, heat transfer and material flow in fusion welding, residual stress and distortion, recrystallization in hot metal forming process, optimization in manufacturing processes.

Sukhomay Pal is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati. His research interests include welding process monitoring and control, modeling and optimization of manufacturing processes using soft-computing techniques.

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Das, B., Bag, S. & Pal, S. Probing weld quality monitoring in friction stir welding through characterization of signals by fractal theory. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 2459–2465 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0444-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0444-2

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