Analysis Of Friction Stir Welding

1. INTRODUCTION

Friction Stir Welding is method of solid phase welding, permits a wide range of parts and geometries to be welded. It has wide application potential inship building, aerospace, automobile and other manufacturingindustries. The process proves predominance for welding non-heat treatableor powder metallurgy aluminum alloys, to which thefusion welding cannot be applied. Thus fundamental studies bothon the weld mechanism and on the relation betweenmicrostructure with mechanical properties and process parameters have recently been started.A greatadvantage isin particular the possibility of joining dissimilar materials.One of the possible applications is for example the welding of high performancematerials, such as particle reinforced aluminiumalloy to larger structures made from a lowerperformance but less expensive alloy.In fusion welding the two surfaces of metals melt either directly or along with the filler and the inter-mixed molten metal solidify to form a welded joint. A metallurgical bond is formed giving adequate strength to the joint.Pressure welding consists of processes where the bond is obtained by applying only pressure or heat and pressure or melting and solidification under pressure.

There are a set of pressure welding

It plays a critical role in material flow and in turn governs the traverse rate at which friction stir welding can be conducted. The tool consists of a shoulder and pin. In the initial stage of tool plunge, the heating results primarily from the friction between pin and work piece. The tool is plunged till the shoulder touches the work piece. The friction between shoulder and work piece results in the biggest component of heating. From the heating aspect, the relative size of the pin and shoulder is important. The shoulder also provides confinement for the heated volume of material. The second function of tool is to stir and move the