Investigation of the friction stir lap welding of aluminum alloys AA 5182 and AA 6022

Friction stir lap welding of the similar and dissimilar aluminum alloys is investigated. AA 5182 and AA 6022 aluminum alloys (the widely used aluminum alloys for automobile applications) are selected for the feasibility studies. The friction stir lap welding shows that the placement of the aluminum alloys in the different orders over each other affect the final weld quality and its mechanical properties. The welding parameters such as rotational and traverse speeds and the penetration depth are key factors to affect the micro-structure soundness. The mechanical and the micro-structural characterization is performed on the joints formed with varying welding parameters and from the different order of placement of the AA 6022 and the AA 5182 sheets. The weld failure occurs on the advancing side during the peel tests indicating that the retreating side is relatively stronger. Measured temperatures indicate that the advancing side has higher developed temperature during the course of welding compared to the retreating side.