Engineering

Journal of Materials Processing Technology 142 (2003) 692–696

Tensile properties and fracture locations of friction-stir-welded

joints of 2017-T351 aluminum alloy

H.J. Liu a,b,∗ , H. Fujii a , M. Maeda a , K. Nogi a

b

a Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, Osaka 567-0047, Japan

National Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding Production Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, PR China

Received 30 October 2002; received in revised form 15 May 2003; accepted 5 June 2003

Abstract

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a new and promising welding process that can produce low-cost and high-quality joints of heat-treatable

aluminum alloys because it does not need consumable filler materials and can eliminate some welding defects such as crack and porosity.

In order to demonstrate the friction stir weldability of the 2017-T351 aluminum alloy and determine optimum welding parameters, the

relations between welding parameters and tensile properties of the joints have been studied in this paper. The experimental results showed

that the tensile properties and fracture locations of the joints are significantly affected by the welding process parameters. When the

optimum revolutionary pitch is 0.07 mm/rev corresponding to the rotation speed of 1500 rpm and the welding speed of 100 mm/min, the

maximum ultimate strength of the joints is equivalent to 82% that of the base material. Though the voids-free joints are fractured near or

at the interface between the weld nugget and the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) on the advancing side, the fracture occurs at

the weld center when the void defects exist in the joints.

© 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Friction stir welding; Tensile properties; Welding parameter; Aluminum alloy; Fracture location

1. Introduction

Heat-treatable aluminum alloys are difficult to fusion

weld because some welding defects such as crack and

porosity are easily formed in the...