Friction stir lap joining of blanks under different conditions

The present investigation aims at studying the effect of the tool geometry and of rotational velocity of the tool, at different welding velocities, on the tensile shear strength of friction stir welded joints realised with blanks of different thicknesses. The proposed trial and error methodology was based on experiments, numerical simulations and microstructure observations. It was found that, at the lowest rotational velocity, the slender tool determines tensile shear strength values lower than those obtained with the thick tool in particular at the highest welding velocity investigated. The numerical simulation evidenced a wider stirred zone for the thick tool when compared with that realised with the slender tool at the lowest rotational velocity. Microstructure observations evidenced that the increase in the welding velocity determines reduced stirred zones and a homogenisation of material particularly relevant for the slender tool.