The Effect of Helical Pin Profiles on the Friction Stir Welding Performance of Aluminium Alloy AA6082

In this study, one of the solid state welding methods, friction stir welding, was studied with the AA6082 aluminum alloy. Two types of pins with a special geometry were used to investigate the effect of pins profile, tool rotational speed, and welding speed on the mechanical properties of welded joints. The pin profile was associated with weld joint properties such as tensile strength, elongation, bending strength, bending force, hardness distributions and temperature. Results have shown that the friction surface area of the pin has a significant role on the mechanical behaviour of the joint. The results of tensile tests associated with the pin profile indicate that the helical two-flute pin has a high tensile strength and elongation compared to the helical four-flute pin. Discrepancies in the tensile strength of the welded samples of the two pin profiles have been found between 37-55 % at the same welding conditions. Despite the relatively poor static properties, the helical four-flute pin has better bending properties. Higher bending strength and force (260.634 MPa and 347.513 daN) were obtained at test conditions of 2000 rpm and 100 mm/min. Bending without any defect on the joint was achieved at 2000 rpm and 200 mm/min. The effect of welding parameters on the hardness profile was not clear, and it has been observed that, in comparison, the helical two-flute pin did not create a remarkable difference with regard to hardness.