The tensile deformation and fracture behavior of friction stir welded aluminum alloy 2024

In this paper, the salient intricacies of friction stir welding of aluminum alloy 2024 are highlighted. Influence of welding parameter, primarily the heat flow conduction path, on microstructural development of a 0.125 in (3 mm) thick plate of the aluminum alloy is presented. The conjoint influence of weld parameter and intrinsic microstructural features on tensile deformation and quasi-static fracture behavior is presented and discussed. The tensile properties and fracture behavior of the welded sample is compared with the unwelded counterpart. The microscopic mechanisms governing tensile or quasi-static fracture are rationalized in light of intrinsic microstructural features of the welded sample, deformation characteristics of the alloy microstructure, and nature of loading. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.