Advanced Analytical Methods of the Analysis of Friction Stir Welding Process (FSW) of Aluminum Sheets Used in the Automotive Industry

Abstract

The paper provides general information on selected methods of joining aluminum sheets. The main focus is on the strength of the friction stir welding connection and the energy consumption of the process. The practical part of the study used aluminum alloy 2024-T3, the most commonly used alloy in the automotive industry. The study consisted of the FSW welding of two pieces of overlapping sheet metal, using different process parameters. The thickness of the sheet used was 1 mm. After the welding was completed, the test specimens were broken on a testing machine. During the tests, the appropriate process parameters were selected at which the weld showed the highest strength. The effect of implementing the FSW process should be to increase the efficiency of sheet-metal joining. It should also result in a reduction in the energy intensity of the process, which will translate into the lower production cost of the final product. Strength tests were carried out on eighteen samples of joined sheets. The best results were obtained at a feed rate of 100 (mm/min) and a rotational speed of 900 (rpm). It can also be seen that friction welding is an efficient and low-emission way of joining metals. Through the analysis, it can be concluded that in order to perform one meter of satisfactory welding, CO2 emissions will be approximately 310 g. These are calculations based on data published by the National Balancing and Emissions Management Centre from 2019. Analyzing the 2019 data from the Society of Automobile Manufacturers, it is safe to say that the potential for implementing the FSW method in the automotive industry is huge.