Heat Transfer Simulation and Effect of Tool Pin Profile and Rotational Speed on Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded AA5083-O

A 3D transient heat transfer model is developed by ABAQUS software to study the temperature distribution during friction stir welding process at different rotational speeds. Furthermore, AA 5083-O plates were joined by FSW technique. For this purpose, a universal milling machine was used to perform the welding process and a mechanical vice was used to fix the work pieces in the proper position. The joints were friction stir welded at a constant travel speed 50 mm/min and two rotational speed values; 400 rpm and 630 rpm using two types of tools; cylindrical threaded pin and tapered smooth one. At each welding condition the temperature was measured using infra-red thermal image camera to verify the simulated temperature distribution. The welded joints were visually inspected as well as by macro- and microstructure evolutions. In addition, the welded joints were mechanically tested for hardness and tensile strength. The maximum peak temperature obtained was at higher rotational speed using the threaded tool pin profile. The results showed that the rotational speed affects the peak temperature, defects formation and sizes, and the mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints. Moreover, the threaded tool gives superior mechanical properties than the tapered one at lower rotational speed.