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Effect of tool shoulder and pin probe profiles on friction stirred aluminum welds — a comparative study

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Abstract

In marine application, marine grade steel is generally used for haul and superstructures. However, aluminum has also become a good choice due to its lightweight qualities, while rusting of aluminum is minimal compared to steel. In this paper a study on friction stir welding of aluminum alloys was presented. The present investigation deals with the effects of different friction stir welding tool geometries on mechanical strength and the microstructure properties of aluminum alloy welds. Three distinct tool geometries with different types of shoulder and tool probe profiles were used in the investigation according to the design matrix. The effects of each tool shoulder and probe geometry on the weld was evaluated. It was also observed that the friction stir weld tool geometry has a significant effect on the weldment reinforcement, microhardness, and weld strength.

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Correspondence to P. Biswas.

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H. K. Mohanty was born in 1965. He has more than twenty years of experience in imparting technical education and training in government-run institutions. He is currently working as a research scholar in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department of IIT Roorkee sponsored by the government of Orissa, India. His research topic is related to the modeling of the frition stir welding process while considering the effects of tool geometries.

M. M. Mahapatra was born in 1970. He is working as an assistant professor at the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at IIT, Roorkee. His current research interests include welding deformation and residual stress analysis, design of welded structures, and development of the friction stir welding process.

Pradeep Kumar is a professor in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, IIT, Roorkee. His research interests include supply chain management, advanced manufacturing processes, metal casting, microwave joining of metals, and solid state joining of metals.

Pankaj Biswas was born in 1979. He is an assistant professor in the IIT Guwahati, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. His current research interests include manufacturing and design: computational weld mechanics, ship production, and friction stir welding modeling.

Nisith Ranjan Mandal was born in 1954. He is a professor in the IIT Kharagpur, Dept. of OE&NA. His current research interests include ship production, ship design, line heating, welding distortion of large stiffened structures, and friction stir welding techniques.

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Mohanty, H.K., Mahapatra, M.M., Kumar, P. et al. Effect of tool shoulder and pin probe profiles on friction stirred aluminum welds — a comparative study. J. Marine. Sci. Appl. 11, 200–207 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-012-1123-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-012-1123-4

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