Influence of shoulder geometry on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 6082 aluminium alloy

The effect of different shoulder geometries on the mechanical and microstructural properties of a friction stir welded joints have been studied in the present paper. The process was used on 6082 T6 aluminum alloy in the thickness of 1.5 mm. The three studied tools differed from shoulders with scroll and fillet, cavity and fillet, and only fillet. The effect of the three shoulder geometries has been analysed by visual inspection, macrograph, HV microhardness, bending test and transverse and longitudinal room temperature tensile test. The investigation results showed that, for thin sheets, the best joint has been welded by a shoulder with fillet and cavity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.