REVIEW PAPER ON FATIGUE STRENGTH & TOOL LIFE FOR FRICTION STEER WELDING

Mechanical Engineering

As a solid state assembly process, friction stir welding (FSW) has proven to be auspicious approach for connection aluminum matrix composites (AMCs). However, experiments still remain in using FSW to join AMCs even with considerable progress having been made in recent years. This review paper offers an overview of the station-the-art of FSW of AMC materials. Detailed attention and critical assessment have been given to: (a) the macrostructure and microstructure of AMC joints, (b) the estimation of mechanical properties of joints, and (c) the wear of FSW outfits due to the presence of corroboration materials in aluminum conditions. This review concludes with references for future research directions. The fatigue strength of sound welds is only reduced by 10–15% at the aimed lifespan of 105 cycles related to the base material. Joint Line Remnant (JLR) bearing welds have similar fatigue strength as sound welds and the JLR is not the crack initiation site. Kissing Bond (KB) bearing welds that have undergone a weld root polishing show a decrease in fatigue strength by 17% compared to sound welds. For specimens loaded at or above yield strength of the weld nugget the crack systematically initiates from the KB during the first cycle, which is interpreted further using fracture mechanics. The strongest reduction, about 28% in fatigue strength, is found for welds with an initial gap between the parent sheets (GAP welds) along with launch at intergranular surface micro cracks.

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