Effect Of Tool Rotational Speed On Friction Stir Spot Welded Aa5052-H38 Aluminum Alloy

The constantly increasing demands in weight reduction for fuel economy, thinking of automotive emission regulations and impact on environment during recycling have led to wider application of aluminium sheets in transport industries. But welding of aluminium with the conventional electrical resistance spot welding (ERSW) is highly difficult because aluminium has higher electrical and thermal conductivity. Moreover aluminium has a higher affinity for copper, which limits the electrode life. Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is an ideal competent process for aluminium welding than ERSW. FSSW is a derivative process of friction stir welding process. FSSW is a single spot joining process, in which a solid state joining is made between adjacent materials at overlap configuration. This process also eradicates the problems associated with commonly used other single spot joining processes such as mechanical riveting, clinching and toggle lock. In this investigation AA5052-H38 aluminium alloy was used as a base material. Friction stir spot weld was done on this aluminium sheets at lap shear configuration. Effect of tool rotational speed was analysed and the maximum tensile shear lap shear fracture load was found to be 4.215 kN. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.