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Effect of Through-Thickness Friction Stir Processing Parameters on Weld Repair and Modification of Fusion-Welded AA6061 Aluminum Alloy

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Abstract

Through-thickness friction stir processing was successfully carried out for microstructure modification and elimination of fusion defects of the gas metal arc welds by applying the process on as-welded joints. Variation in rotational speed from 750 to 1050 rpm and traveling speed from 50 to 200 mm/min resulted in minor changes (approximately 1 µm) in the grain size of nugget zone, while this variation in elongation result was up to 40%. The hardness profile, the width of softening zone, minimum hardness and fracture location also changed for different processing conditions. Furthermore, the defects were vanished efficiently across the welds profile by this method. The results also verified the geometric dynamic recrystallization phenomena as a dominant mechanism of microstructural modification.

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Aliakbari, S., Ketabchi, M. & Mirsalehi, S.E. Effect of Through-Thickness Friction Stir Processing Parameters on Weld Repair and Modification of Fusion-Welded AA6061 Aluminum Alloy. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 28, 2688–2696 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-04060-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-04060-9

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