Effect of Welding Parameters on Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Friction Stir Welded 6061 AL Joints

The present investigation is aimed at evaluating the influence of tool rotation rate and welding speed on the microstructure, tensile properties, and fracture mode of 6061 Al-T651 alloy after friction stir welding (FSW). TEM results revealed that in the nugget zone (NZ), FSW resulted in the dissolution of fine needle-shaped precipitates that previously existed in the base metal. At a given rotation rate of 1400rpm, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the welded joints increased with increasing welding speed from 200 to 600mm/min. However, the UTS of the joints was nearly independent of the rotation rate. Furthermore, the relationship between the hardness distribution and fracture location has also been identified.