O processo de soldagem por atrito linear com mistura (FSW) é uma técnica recente para a soldagem no estado sólido de materiais, em particular para o alumínio e suas ligas. O processo foi inventado na Inglaterra em 1991. Neste processo, as partes a serem soldadas são fixadas e uma ferramenta especial realiza a soldagem de forma contínua. A ferramenta possui uma velocidade de rotação e, durante a sua translação, o material é misturado no estado sólido e, conseqüentemente, soldando as duas partes. A junta soldada por FSW de alumínio AA 6063-T6, com espessura de 3 mm foi caracterizada. A soldagem foi realizada com uma rotação da ferramenta de 710 rpm e com uma velocidade de translação de 5,3 mm/s. A ferramenta empregada é do tipo three flats, com diâmetro do ombro de 14 mm, diâmetro do pino de 3 mm e com ângulo de 90° com relação à horizontal. Os corpos de prova foram soldados em três condições: um passe, dois passes e dois passes com inversão de rotação do pino. Após a soldagem foram realizados os seguintes tratamentos térmicos: solubilização, envelhecimento e recozimento. A junta soldada foi caracterizada por macrografias, micrografias, microdureza, ensaios de calorimetria diferencial e EBSD. Os resultados mostraram que existem ZTMAs diferentes conforme a condição dos de passes. O número de passes tem influência nas componentes da textura alterando de Cubo para Latão e para Goss + Cobre. Os tratamentos térmicos de envelhecimento e recozimento produziram as maiores e menores durezas do cordão, respectivamente. Foi observada a sinergia entre os fatores número de passes e região do cordão no tamanho de grão do cordão. O lado de retrocesso, após o tratamento térmico, apresentou os grãos mais finos. / Friction stir welding (FSW) is a recent process for aluminium welding in solid state. This process was invented in England in 1991. The welding process is done with a special rotating tool that travels along the joint while the parts are fixed. The tool has a speed and a rotation and during its translation the material mixtures in solid state and the joint occurs. The objective of this paper is to show the metallurgical and mechanical characteristics of a 3 mm thick Aluminum AA 6063 T6 plate welded joint. The tool rotation speed was 710 rpm and the translation speed was 5.3 mm/s. The type of the tool used was three flats, with a shoulder diameter of 14mm and pin diameter of 3mm and perpendicular to the plate. The samples were welded in three conditions: one pass, two passes and two passes with pin rotation inversion in the second pass. The welded samples were also submitted to solution heat treatment, solution heat treatment followed by aging and annealing heat treatments. The welded joint was studied with these main experimental techniques: optical and scanning electron microscopy, microhardness, differential scanning calorimetry and electron backscatter diffraction for texture analysis. The results showed different TAZs according to the welding conditions. The number of passes has influence over the texture components changing from Cube to Brass and to Goss + Copper. The aging and solution heat treatments showed the highest and the lowest hardness, respectively. Synergy between the welding conditions and weld region was observed for the grain size results. The retreating side produced the finest grains after heat treating.

Le procédé de soudage par friction malaxage (FSW) entraîne, d’une manière générale, une importante chute de dureté à travers le joint soudé. Dans le but de concevoir des structures aéronautiques soudées par FSW en fatigue, il est nécessaire de connaître l’impact de cette chute de dureté dans le comportement mécanique global de la soudure. Dans ces travaux, l’alliage d’aluminium à durcissement structural 2198-T8 est considéré. Une chaîne de calcul de durée de vie en fatigue d’une structure soudée par FSW est mise en place. Elle intègre un couplage de calculs et d’expériences grâce auxquels le comportement mécanique de la structure est modélisé. Dans un premier temps, le gradient de comportement mécanique de la soudure est étudié. Des essais mécaniques de traction et cycliques sont réalisés à température ambiante. La méthode de corrélation d’images numériques (DIC) est utilisée dans le but de mesurer les champs de déplacements localement dans et au voisinage du joint soudé. À partir des résultats expérimentaux, les paramètres mécaniques d’un modèle de comportement sont identifiés à partir d’un élément de volume, zone par zone à travers le joint soudé. En parallèle, une quantification des précipités durcissants T1 (Al2CuLi) est menée dans différentes zones du joint soudé à l’aide d’un Microscope Electronique en Transmission (MET). Un lien entre l’évolution de la microstructure à travers la soudure et l’évolution des paramètres mécaniques est recherché. Le modèle de comportement mécanique est utilisé sur des calculs de structure utilisant la méthode des éléments finis pour simuler le joint soudé. En parallèle, des essais de fatigue sont réalisés sur des éprouvettes uniaxiales et cruciformes soumises à des chargements uniaxiaux et multiaxiaux. À l’aide des simulations du gradient de comportement mécanique du joint soudé ainsi que des résultats mesurés en fatigue, les paramètres d’un modèle d’endommagement sont identifiés. Ce modèle est utilisé pour prédire les durées de vie en fatigue et les zones d’amorçages de fissure pour une structure soudée soumise à des chargements multiaxiaux. / The Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process generally induces a critical hardness decrease inside the welded joint. To design aeronautical structure welded by FSW in fatigue, it is then necessary to know the impact of this hardness drop on the constitutive behaviour of the junction. In this study, the hardening structural aluminium alloy 2198-T8 is considered.A fatigue lifetime assessment loop of a welded structure is implemented. It integrates a calculations and experiments coupling which is used to model the structure’s mechanical behaviour. The gradient mechanical behaviour of the weldment is initially studied.Monotonic and cyclic mechanical tests are carried out to room temperature. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to measure local displacement fields around the junction. Based on this experimental data, mechanical parameters for a constitutive model are identified on a volume element, zone by zone across the welded joint. In parallel, a quantification of the T1 (Al2CuLi) strengthening precipitates is realized in different region of the joint with a Transmission Electron Microscope. A connection between the microstructure evolution and the mechanical parameters is researched. The gradient mechanical behaviour of the joint is assessed on a 3D structure by Finite Element Analysis. Furthermore, fatigue tests are carried out on uniaxial and multiaxial loadings welded specimen. Thanks to the mechanical behaviour model and the fatigue lifetime measured, a damage model is used to predict the fatigue lifetime and the crack initiation zone for a welded structure which is subjected to higher multiaxial loads.

Le soudage par friction malaxage (FSW) est un procédé de soudage innovant pour les matériaux à bas point de fusion (aluminium, cuivre…). Il a été breveté en 1992 par l’organisme anglais The Welding Institute (TWI). Depuis plusieurs années, celui-ci se développe dans l’industrie en cherchant à réduire son coût d’investissement. Le principe du FSW est de réaliser un cordon de soudure grâce à un outil animé d’un mouvement de rotation et d’avance. Les niveaux d’efforts et de précision requis contraignent à l’utilisation de machines cartésiennes de grande envergure. L’utilisation des robots industriels est un moyen de réduire les coûts, mais ils ne sont pas conçus pour ce genre d’applications et leur inconvénient majeur réside dans leur manque de rigidité. Ainsi, lorsque l’outil entre en contact avec les pièces à assembler, celui-ci peut dévier de plusieurs millimètres dans différentes directions de l’espace, rendant la mise en oeuvre d’une compensation de la trajectoire du robot obligatoire afin d’obtenir des soudures sans défauts. Le but de cette thèse a été de développer un procédé robotisé robuste. Le premier objectif est la mise en oeuvre d’une commande en effort robuste. En effet, en FSW, le maintien d’un effort axial constant est obligatoire. Le contrôle de cet effort permet de compenser la déviation axiale de l’outil et les défauts de mise en position des pièces à souder. Ainsi, une démarche d’identification et de modélisation afin de créer une commande en effort a été mise en oeuvre. La commande est définie de manière robuste afin d’éviter les réglages de l’asservissement lorsque les outils, les paramètres de soudage ou les trajectoires du robot changent. Une validation expérimentale complète a été réalisée dans le contexte du FSW. Le second objectif de cette thèse a été de développer une compensation de la déviation latérale de l’outil. Contrairement à l’objectif précédent, il n’y a pas d’effort à maintenir pour compenser cette déviation latérale. Dans l’industrie, cette déviation peut être compensée à l’aide d’un système de vision, mais ce dernier comporte de nombreux inconvénients en FSW (réflexion de l’aluminium, non visibilité du joint, coût, mise en oeuvre complexe). Ainsi, dans cette partie, un algorithme de compensation temps réel de la déviation latérale de l’outil a été mis en oeuvre. Celui-ci repose sur l’identification d’un modèle élasto-statique du robot. L’algorithme de compensation de la déviation latérale de l’outil a été couplé à la commande en effort et validé expérimentalement en FSW. La différence avec la majorité des travaux de recherche dans ce domaine est que les procédures d’identification n’utilisent pas de système de mesure 3D (photogrammétrie CCD ou laser de poursuite) dont le coût est un frein indéniable pour beaucoup d’industriels. La démarche est simple à mettre en oeuvre sur un robot industriel du marché actuel, et applicable pour d’autres procédés à contact comme l’usinage ou le polissage. / Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is an innovative welding process for materials with a low melting point (aluminium, copper…). It was patented in 1992 by the English organization The Welding Institute (TWI). For many years, an effort is done to reduce the investment cost for industrial applications. FSW process involves a rotating tool advancing along a path. Currently, gantry-type CNC systems are using for FSW manufacturing. These machines offer a high stiffness and can tolerate the forces during FSW in order to carry out a good weld quality. Industrials robots can reduce the investment cost; however they are not design for these applications. The main limitation is the low stiffness of the robot structure. Consequently, the robot deformation under the high process forces causes tool deviations about several millimeters. The robot path has to be compensated in order to obtain a good weld quality. The aim of this thesis is to develop a robust robotized process. The first goal is to realize a robust force control. During FSW, a constant axial forging force should be applied. Axial tool deviation is compensated with the force control approach. In this way, a modeling and identification method is done in order to design a force controller. The force controller is robust because no tuning is required, even if welding parameters or robot paths change. An experimental validation in FSW is done. The second goal is to realize a compensation of the lateral tool deviation. Unlike the axial deformation, there is no force to maintain for compensate this deviation. In industry, the lateral tool deviation could be compensated with a camera or laser sensor in order to track the weld seam path during welding. However, the cost of a seam tracking device, the aluminium reflexion and the lack of visibility in lap joint configuration are significant drawbacks. In this chapter, a compensation algorithm is designed. An elastostatic model of the robot is used to estimate in real time the deflection of the robot TCP. The compensation algorithm is coupled with the force controller defined previously. Compare with others research works about this topic, identification methods don’t need a 3D measurement system (CCD camera or laser tracker). The cost of such system is a main drawback for industrial applications. In this thesis, identification methods are easy to implement in an industrial robot and available for others processes like machining or polishing.

A soldagem altera as propriedades mecânicas dos aços ligados ao níquel, em especial seu desempenho em aplicações criogênicas. Assim, este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a soldabilidade metalúrgica do aço com 9% níquel e tem como objetivos: identificar se a fragilização em temperatura abaixo da temperatura Ac3 ocorre em ZACs com dois e três ciclos térmicos simulados fisicamente; analisar as características da junta soldada pelo processo de soldagem por atrito linear com mistura e os efeitos da soldagem multipasse; e analisar a influência dos passes de enchimento e acabamento sobre o comportamento mecânico da ZAC da raiz de uma junta soldada pelo processo de soldagem MIG/MAG. Destacam-se entre os resultados da simulação física da ZAC: as amostras que tiveram a temperatura máxima abaixo da temperatura Ac1, no terceiro ciclo térmico, não apresentaram o efeito de redução da energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V; a fração volumétrica de austenita retida não aumenta a quantidade de energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V para as amostras que tiveram a temperatura máxima do segundo ciclo térmico abaixo da temperatura Ac3 (723°C); e a correlação linear múltipla sugere um modelo empírico, baseado nos dados deste trabalho, onde os fatores de fração volumétrica do microconstituinte martensita-austenita, fração volumétrica de austenita retida e tamanho de grão são mais relevantes para a quantidade de energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V. Destacam-se entre os resultados da soldagem por atrito linear: a energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V da zona misturada do primeiro cordão (CP1) é menor que o metal de base; o segundo cordão gera duas regiões na zona misturada do primeiro cordão, que tendem a aumentar a energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V; os valores de energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V apresentam correlações lineares simples com a microdureza, a fração volumétrica do microconstituinte martensita-austenita e com o tamanho de grão. Destacam-se entre os resultados da soldagem com MIG/MAG: A soldagem do aço com 9% de níquel com a liga Inconel 625 gera uma zona não misturada entre o metal de solda e a ZAC; a amostra com todos os passes de solda (CP3) apresenta a menor energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V entre todos os experimentos; e a trinca, no ensaio Charpy V, propaga na zona não misturada no CP1 e no CP2, que tiveram as maiores energias absorvidas no ensaio Charpy. O CP3 apresenta propagação de trinca na linha de fusão e possui a menor energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy V. / Welding modify the mechanical properties of nickel steels, especially their performance in cryogenic applications. Thus, this work presents a study on the metallurgical weldability of 9% nickel steel and its objectives are: identify if the embrittlement in temperature below the Ac3 temperature occurs in HAZs with two and three thermal cycles simulated physically; analyze the characteristics of the joint welded by friction stir welding process and the effects of multipass welding; and analyze the influence of the filling and finishing passes on the mechanical behavior of HAZ from the root of a joint welded by the GMAW welding process. The results of the physical simulation of the HAZ were: the samples that had the maximum temperature below the temperature Ac1, in the third thermal cycle, did not present the effect of reduction of the energy absorbed in the Charpy V test; the retained austenite volumetric fraction does not increase the amount of energy absorbed in the Charpy V test for the samples having the maximum temperature of the second thermal cycle below the Ac3 temperature (723 °C); and the multiple linear correlation suggests an empirical model, based on the data of this work, where the volumetric fraction factors of the martensite-austenite microconstituent, retained austenite volumetric fraction and grain size are more relevant for the amount of energy absorbed in the Charpy V test. The FSW welding highlights results: the energy absorbed in the Charpy V test of the mixed zone of the first pass (CP1) is smaller than the base metal; the second pass generates two regions in the mixed zone of the first pass, which tend to increase the energy absorbed in the Charpy V test; the values of energy absorbed in the Charpy V test show simple linear correlations with the microhardness, the volumetric fraction of the martensite-austenite microconstituent and with the grain size. The GMAW welding highlights results: welding of the steel with 9% nickel with the Inconel 625 alloy makes an unmixed zone between the weld metal and the HAZ; the sample with all weld passes (CP3) shows the lowest energy absorbed in the Charpy V test among all the experiments; and the crack, in the Charpy V test, propagates in the unmixed zone in CP1 and CP2, which had the highest energies absorbed in the Charpy test. The CP3 shows crack propagation in the melting line and has the lowest energy absorbed in the Charpy V test.

Esta tese tem por objetivo a aplicação do processamento por atrito linear na liga de titânio Ti-6Al-4V. Derivado da solda por atrito linear, é um processo recente desenvolvido na década de 90 para união de alumínio. Sua aplicação em outros tipos de materiais como aços e ligas de alto desempenho, em especial o titânio, tem interessado a industria. A metodologia utilizada nesta tese para avaliar o processamento por atrito linear, consistiu na execução de ensaios mecânicos de tração em condições mistas em chapas da liga de titânio Ti-6Al-4V. A máquina utilizada para o processamento das chapas foi um centro de usinagem CNC convencional, adaptado com dispositivos especiais. Além dos ensaios de tração em condições mistas, foram executadas medições de microdurezas nas regiões atingidas pelo processo, avaliação das microestruturas resultantes e medições de tensão residual para uma caracterização mais ampla do processo. As microestruturas na região processada são caracterizadas por uma estrutura totalmente transformada. As temperaturas de pico na região processada excederam a temperatura -transus durante o processamento e a transformação da fase + ocorreu durante a fase de resfriamento. A transformação da fase para resultou na formação de agulhas de fase nos contornos e pelo interior dos grãos da fase . Pequenas regiões com estrutura equiaxial de grãos ( globular) foram observados na zona de processamento. A abordagem dos resultados quantitativos foi feita de forma estatística, visando identificar os parâmetros de maior interação com os resultados observados. Foi identificado nesta tese que a rotação da ferramenta apresentou a maior influência nos resultados de tensão residual, microdureza e tensão de escoamento. Uma importante contribuição à modelagem da tensão de escoamento para materiais anisotrópicos é proposta, baseado em um critério de escoamento ortotrópico. Equações complementares baseadas nos testes mistos de tração e cisalhamento são propostas para modificar o modelo ortotrópico. O intuito deste modelo é indicar em que condições o material tem seu regime de escoamento atingido, podendo servir de base para simulações práticas de peças em condições similares. / This thesis aims at the application of friction stir processing (FSP) in Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. Derived from friction stir welding (FSW), it is a recent process developed in the 90s for aluminum joining. Its application to other types of materials such as steel and high performance alloys, in particular titanium, has interested industry. The methodology applied in this thesis to evaluate FSP, consisted in the execution of tensile test at mixed conditions to Ti-6Al-4V sheets 4. The machine used for processing the sheet was a conventional CNC milling machine, assembled with special fixture devices. In addition to tensile tests, measurements have been performed to the regions affected by the process such as evaluation of microhardness, microstructure and residual stress condition. The microstructures at the processed region are characterized by a transformed structure. The peak temperatures, in the processed region, exceeded the -transus temperature during the processing and transformation of the phase + occurred during the cooling phase. This transformation resulted in the formation of boundary and intergranular phase (Widmanstätten) at the grains. Small regions of equiaxed grain structure (globular ) were observed in the processed zone. The approach to the quantitative results was made in statistical form aiming to identify the parameters interaction with the observed results. It was identified in this thesis that the tool spinning rotation showed the highest influence on the results of residual stress, hardness and yield strength. An important contribution to the modeling of anisotropic materials yield stress is proposed based on an orthotropic yield criterion. Additional equations based on the mixed tests for tensile and shear are proposed to modify the orthotropic model. The purpose of this model is to indicate the conditions under which the material has reached its yield regime, and may be a basis for practical simulations in similar conditions.

Methods for predicting weld properties based on welding parameters are needed in friction stir welding (FSW). FSW is a joining process in which the resulting properties depend on the thermal cycle of the weld. Buckingham's Pi theorem and heat transfer analysis was used to identify dimensionless parameters relevant to the FSW process. Experimental data from Al 7075 and HSLA-65 on five different backing plate materials and a wide range of travel speeds and weld powers was used to create a dimensionless, empirical model relating critical weld parameters to the peak temperature rise and cooling rate of the weld. The models created have R-squared values greater than 0.99 for both dimensionless peak temperature rise and cooling rate correlations. The model can be used to identify weld parameters needed to produce a desired peak temperature rise or cooling rate. The model can also be used to explore the relative effects of welding parameters on the weld thermal response.

Neste trabalho os efeitos da soldagem por fricção e mistura na resistência à corrosão da liga 2098-T351 foram avaliados e correlacionados com sua microestrutura. Neste sentido, técnicas eletroquímicas convencionais e locais (EIS, curvas de polarização, SVET, SECM e LEIS) em conjunto com técnicas de caracterização microestrutural (XPS, SEM, TEM, DSC, microdureza, perfilometria ótica) foram utilizadas. Devido a pouca informação encontrada na literatura sobre este material, uma caracterização prévia da liga na condição como recebida pelo fabricante foi realizada. Com isso, observou-se a existência da influência da preparação da amostra na resistência à corrosão da liga. Amostras na condição como recebida apresentaram maior resistência à corrosão do que as amostras polidas. Em seguida, a liga 2098-T351 foi caracterizada e sua resistência à corrosão comparada com a da liga convencional 2024-T3, amplamente usada na indústria aeroespacial. Os resultados mostraram diferentes mecanismos de propagação da corrosão para as duas ligas. Em termos de resistência à corrosão, a liga 2098-T351 apresentou potencial para substituir a liga 2024-T3 em termos de resistência a penetração do ataque localizado. Por fim, a reatividade das diferentes zonas de soldagem foi correlacionada com as respectivas características microestruturais. Os resultados mostraram que a região da junta soldada, que compreende a região da zona misturada e zona termomecânicamente afetada, foi mais resistente à corrosão do que a zona termicamente afetada e o metal base. A alta densidade da fase T1 (Al2CuLi) nestas ultimas regiões, comparadas à junta soldada foi considerada responsável por esse comportamento. / In this work, the effects of friction stir welding on the corrosion resistance of the 2098-T351 alloy were evaluated and correlated with its microstructure. In this sense, conventional and local eletrochemical techniques (EIS, polarization curves, SVET, SECM e LEIS) together with microstructural characterization techniques (XPS, SEM, TEM, DSC, microhardness, optical profilometry) were used. Due to the little information found in the literature on the 2098-T351 alloy a prior characterization of the alloy in the as received condition by the manufacturer was carried out. Thus, the influence of sample preparation on the corrosion resistance of the alloy was observed. Samples in the as-received condition showed higher corrosion resistance than the polished ones. Next, the the 2098-T351 alloy was characterized and its corrosion resistance compared to that of the conventional 2024-T3, widely used in the aerospace industry. The results showed different mechanisms of corrosion propagation for the two alloys. In terms of corrosion resistance, the 2098-T351 alloy presents potential to replace the conventional 2024-T3 alloy due to its resistance to corrosion attack penetration. Finally, the reactivity of the different FSW welding zones was correlated with their microstructural features. The results showed that the weld joint, which comprises the stir zone and the thermomechanically affected zone, was more resistant to corrosion than the heat affected zone and base metal. The high density of T1 phase (Al2CuLi) in these last zones, compared to the weld joint was considered responsible for this behavior.

A procura cada vez mais intensa por redução de peso e consequente diminuição do consumo de combustível dos veículos automotores e aeronaves, tem proporcionado um crescimento constante na utilização do alumínio e suas ligas nos diversos setores da indústria de manufatura. No entanto, a dificuldade de união em juntas de alumínio que atendam requisitos de alta resistência à fratura e à fadiga, tem intensificado as pesquisas por novas tecnologias em seu processo de soldagem. Neste contexto, o processo de soldagem denominado Friction Stir Welding (FSW), vem ganhando espaço nas pesquisas e também na indústria. Neste processo, uma ferramenta não consumível é projetada especialmente para ser introduzida nas juntas das chapas a serem soldadas, gerando calor e misturando mecanicamente o material da junta, consolidando a solda. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos dos parâmetros de soldagem FSW, na consolidação das propriedades mecânicas das soldas produzidas, na microestrutura, além de buscar a otimização do processo para a liga em estudo. Para tanto, a geometria da ferramenta foi projetada, fabricada e testada, de forma a definir os parâmetros ideais para obtenção de juntas soldadas sem defeitos. Uma máquina fresadora CNC foi utilizada para a execução dos testes. As soldas foram produzidas em chapas de alumínio da liga Al 5182-O com espessura de 3,25mm, com velocidade rotacional da ferramenta mantida constante em 500 rpm e velocidades de soldagem de 50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 mm/min. A ferramenta foi inclinada em um ângulo de 1º, todas as soldas foram realizadas com sentido horário de rotação, após a realização dos testes as juntas soldadas foram submetidas a uma série de ensaios destrutivos e não destrutivos caracterizando cada teste realizado. Juntas de topo com penetração completa e livre de defeitos foram produzidas com velocidades de soldagem de 100, 150, 200 e 250 mm/min, enquanto com a velocidade de soldagem de 50 mm/min resultou em defeito do tipo vazio na zona da mistura no lado do avanço, defeito este caracterizado através de inspeção por microtomografia, o que fez com que as soldas produzidas com esta velocidade de soldagem rompessem na junta soldada. Em todas as velocidades de soldagem a caracterização através de microscopia óptica na seção transversal das soldas revelou um refino microestrutural, obtido pelo fenômeno de recristalização dinâmica, que resultou em um aumento nos valores de dureza na zona da mistura. Os resultados obtidos demostram que soldas de boa qualidade podem ser produzidas com este processo. Além disso, foi estabelecida uma correlação entre a história térmica associada ao processo de FSW, a microestrutura produzida e o desempenho mecânico das juntas soldadas. / The increasingly intense demand for weight reduction and consequent reduction of the fuel consumption of motor vehicles and aircraft , has provided a steady growth in the use of aluminum and its alloys in various sectors of the manufacturing industry , but the difficulty in joining together aluminum that meet high fracture resistance and fatigue , has intensified the research for new technologies in the process of welding. In this context , the welding process called Friction Stir Welding ( FSW ) has been gaining ground in research and also in industry . In this process , non-consumable tool is specially designed to be inserted in the joints of the plates to be welded, generating heat and mechanically mixing the gasket material, consolidating the weld. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of welding parameters FSW , the consolidation of the mechanical properties of the welds produced, microstructure, and seek to optimize the process for the alloy under study. For this, the geometry of the tool is designed, manufactured and tested in order to define the optimal parameters for obtaining welded joints without defects. A milling machine CNC was used for the tests. The welds were produced in sheets of aluminum alloy Al 5182-O with a thickness of 3,25mm with rotational speed of the tool maintained constant at 500 rpm and welding speeds of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mm / min, the tool was tilted at an angle of 1°, all welds were performed with clockwise direction of rotation, after the tests the welded joints were subjected to a series of destructive testing and nondestructive characterizing each test performed. Butt welding with full penetration and free defects were produced with welding speeds of 100, 150, 200 and 250 mm / min, while with the welding speed 50 mm / min resulted in failure of the void type in the zone of the mixture side of the advance, this defect characterized by inspection by microtomography, which has meant that the welds produced with this welding speed would break the joint weld. In all welding speeds characterization by optical microscopy in cross section of welds revealed a microstructure refining, obtained by dynamic recrystallization phenomenon, for which resulted in an increase in the hardness values in the mixing zone. The results demonstrate that good quality welds can be produced with this process. Moreover, a correlation between the thermal history associated with the process produced the microstructure and mechanical performance of welded joints was established.

Le soudage par friction (Friction Stir Welding - FSW) est un processus efficace de se joindre des alliages d'aluminium à haute résistance en évitant les défauts que l'on trouve habituellement lorsque les techniques de soudage classiques sont utilisés. L'industrie de l'aviation a montré un grand intérêt pour cette méthode de soudage, tant pour l'union des alliages semblables comme pour dissemblables. Cependant, ce processus entraîne des changements de microstructure dépendantes des conditions de traitement thermique ou thermomécanique. Le contact électrique entre les différentes zones de microstructures, à son tour, peut conduire à un couplage galvanique entre les différentes zones. Dans la présente étude, le soudage FSW a été utilisé pour joindre deux alliages d'aluminium dissemblables,AA2024-T3 et AA7475-T651. La résistance à la corrosion des joints soudés a été évaluée par des tests électrochimiques, en particulier, les mesures de potentiel en circuit ouvert(OCP), les courbes de polarisation, et des mesures de spectroscopie d'impédance électrochimique, soit globale (EIS) ou local (LEIS) en solution de 0,1 M Na2SO4 ou 0,1MNa2SO4 + 1 mM NaCl. Les tests électrochimiques ont montré l'effet de couplage galvanique dans les joints soudés. La résistance à la corrosion intergranulaires et la résistance à corrosion par exfoliation des joints soudés ont également été évaluées et comparées à celles du AA2024-T3 et les alliages AA7475-T651 non soudées. Les résultats ont montré une réactivité accrue des joints soudés en comparaison avec les alliages non soudés en notant l'attaque plus intense sur l'alliage AA7475-T651. L'identification des zones cathodiques et anodiques dans les joints soudées ont été évaluée par un test consistant à déposer un gel(agar) avec l'indicateur universel et il a été observé que l'alliage AA2024-T3 a agi en tant que cathode, tandis que la AA7475- T651 comme anode. Par ailleurs, le dégagement d'hydrogène a été observée dans la région d'interface entre la zone affectée thermomécaniquement et l'alliage AA7475-T651 affectée par la chaleur. Les résultats des essais de LEIS effectuées dans différentes zones des deux alliages soudés par FSW ont montré l'engagement galvanique à l'interface entre eux pour de courtes durées d'analyse etde déplacement de la région la plus active dans le temps de test pour l'alliage AA7475-T651,plus précisément à l'interface entre la zone affectée thermomécaniquement et la thérmique affectée de cette alliage. / Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is an efficient process of joining high strength aluminum alloys avoiding defects that are usually created when conventional welding techniques are used. The aircraft industry has shown great interest in this welding method, both for welding of similar or dissimilar alloys. However, this process causes microstructural changes that are dependent on the thermal or thermomechanical conditions applied. Electrical contact between zones of different microstructures, in turn, can result in galvanic coupling. In the present study, FSW was used to join two dissimilar aluminum alloys, AA2024-T3 and AA7475-T651 and the effect of this processon the corrosion resistance of the welded joints and on the microstructure of the alloys was evaluated. For corrosion resistance evaluation, electrochemical tests were used, specifically,open circuit potential measurements (OCP) as a function of time of exposure time to the corrosive environment, polarization tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, global (EIS) orlocal (LEIS), in two solutions, either 0.1 M Na2SO4 or 0.1M Na2SO4 + 1 mM NaCl. The electrochemical tests showed galvanic coupling effects in the welded joints. Microstructural characterization was carried out by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy and differencial scanning calorimetry. The welded affected zones showed significant microstructural changes indicated by precipitation and dissolution of precipitates that affect the localized corrosion resistance. Intergranular and exfoliation corrosion resistance of the welded joints were also evaluated and compared to those of unwelded AA2024-T3 and AA7475-T651 alloys. The results showed increased susceptibility of welded joints to these forms of corrosion in comparison with the unwelded alloys with more severe attack associated tothe AA7475-T651 alloy. Identification of anodic and cathodic areas due to galvanic coupling in the welded joints was evaluated by a test consisting in depositing a gel layer (ágar-ágar) with universal indicator on the surface of the welded alloys. The AA2024-T3 alloy worked as cathode,while the AA7475-T651 as anode in the galvanic coupling. Furthermore, hydrogen evolution was observed at the interface region between the thermomechanically affected zone and the heat affected alloy AA7475-T651 showing that cathodic reactions also occurred on this last alloy. LEIS results obtained in different zones of the two FSW welded alloys showed galvanic coupling at the interface between them for short test times and displacement of the most active region to theAA7475-T651 alloy, at longer periods of test, specifically to the interface between the thermomechanically affected and the heat affected zones of this last alloy. / A soldagem por fricção (Friction Stir Welding - FSW) é um processo eficiente de unir ligas dealumínio de alta resistência evitando defeitos que são usualmente criados quando técnicasconvencionais de soldagem são utilizadas. A indústria aeronáutica tem mostrado grande interesseneste método de soldagem, tanto para a união de ligas similares como dissimilares. Entretanto,este processo causa modificações microestruturais dependentes das condições de tratamentotérmico ou termomecânico. Contato elétrico entre zonas de microestruturas diferentes, por sua vez,pode resultar em acoplamento galvânico. No presente estudo, a soldagem por FSW foi usada paraunir duas ligas de alumínio dissimilares, AA2024-T3 e AA7475-T651 e o efeito desta soldagem naresistência à corrosão das juntas soldadas e na microestrutura das ligas foi avaliada. Nainvestigação da resistência à corrosão foram utilizados ensaios eletroquímicos, especificamente,medidas de potencial de circuito aberto (OCP) em função do tempo de exposição ao meio corrosivo,ensaios de polarização e de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica, global (EIS) ou local(LEIS), em duas soluções, seja 0,1 M Na2SO4 ou 0,1 M Na2SO4 + 1 mM NaCl. Os ensaioseletroquímicos evidenciaram efeito de acoplamento galvânico nas juntas soldadas. Acaracterização microestrutural foi realizada por microscopia ótica, microscopia eletrônica devarredura, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e por calorimetria diferencial. As zonas afetadaspela solda tiveram importantes modificações na microestrutura indicadas pela precipitação edissolução de precipitados que afetam a resistência à corrosão localizada. A resistência à corrosãointergranular e a resistência à esfoliação das juntas soldadas também foram avaliadas ecomparadas com as das ligas AA2024-T3 e AA7475-T651 não soldadas. Os resultados mostraramaumento da suscetibilidade das juntas soldadas a estas formas de corrosão em comparação comas ligas não soldadas sendo observado ataque mais severo na liga AA7475-T651. A identificaçãodas áreas anódicas e catódicas resultantes do acoplamento galvânico nas juntas soldadas foirealizada por teste que consistiu na deposição de camada de gel (ágar-ágar) com indicadoruniversal na superfície das ligas soldadas. A liga AA2024-T3 atuou como cátodo, enquanto aAA7475-T651, como ânodo no par galvânico. Além disso, evolução de hidrogênio foi observada naregião de interface entre a zona termomecanicamente afetada e a termicamente afetada da ligaAA7475-T651 mostrando que reações catódicas também ocorreram localmente nesta última liga.Resultados de LEIS obtidos nas diferentes zonas das duas ligas soldadas por FSW mostraramacoplamento galvânico na interface entre elas para tempos curtos de ensaio e deslocamento daregião mais ativa com o tempo de ensaio para a liga AA7475-T651, mais precisamente para ainterface entre a zona termomecanicamente afetada e a térmicamente afetada desta liga.

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a rapidly growing solid state welding process and has been a proven method for welding high strength aluminium alloys which were formerly not recommended for joining by conventional fusion welding methods. Based on the information acquired from previous studies, to obtain a defect free Friction Stir (FS) weld with suitable strength, three basic requirements need to be fulfilled (i) Filling of the cavity created behind the tool pin during its traverse and ensuring satisfactory contact of filled material with newly generated surface (on advancing side trailing edge of the pin) (ii) Disrupting and distributing the oxide layer at the initial weld interface (iii) Adequate level of mixing of both side material (Adjacent and Retreating side) in similar welding. In the case of dissimilar welding mixing is desired in controlled amount (to prevent or curtail formation of intermetallics) depending on material combination. Failure to achieve the first precondition results in void. Second and third precondition are interconnected for similar FSW as adequate mixing in weld helps in disruption and distribution of oxide layer at initial weld interface. Failure to achieve this, results in Joint Line Remnant (JLR). Metal to metal contact cannot be established due to the presence of JLR (aligned oxide particles) and subsequently initial interface is left unwelded which deteriorate the static and dynamic strength of friction stir welds. The problem aggravates while friction stir welding materials with tenacious contaminant layer. Therefore, appropriate stirring (which entails large deformation and mixing) of initial weld interface is essential for successful FS welds. Hence, process aspects assisting mixing of adjacent (Advancing and Retreating side) materials need to identified and studied, which are missing in former studies. Experiments are conducted with classical FS tool (possessing frustum shaped/tapered circular pin) to analyse the effect of welding parameters (tool rotation speed, traverse speed, plunge depth, tool tilt and tool position w.r.t initial interface) and tool runout by changing these parameters over a range. Tool rotation speed, traverse speed, plunge depth and tool position with initial interface are changed continuously and tool tilt and tool runout are changed in discrete steps. Tool geometry is considered to be a prime parameter controlling the magnitude of mixing, as interaction of rotating tool with initial abutting base metal interface makes the process mechanism complex, unlike other solid state welding process, namely forge welding, diffusion welding, friction welding, explosive welding, ultrasonic welding and roll bonding. Furthermore, due to asymmetric nature of material flow in FSW process, the material located in different locations with respect to the tool is subjected to different levels of deformation. For this purpose experiments have been carried out to analyse the effect of different tool geometrical aspects on level of mixing and material flow. On the other hand, visualizing flow and mixing in metals is debatable as insertion of marker material in the weld line can alter the nature of material flow in the weld due to different material flow characteristics of the base and marker materials and introduction of additional interfaces. Further, using dissimilar materials for flow studies cannot be considered for comparison with similar friction stir welds as their flow properties are different. Therefore, an alternate experimental strategy is devised in these studies using physical modelling approach which is effective and helps in identifying and quantifying mixing observed under different tooling and process conditions. In the present investigation, plasticine of primary colours is adopted and the hue attribute of colour is used to study and quantify intermixing. Yellow and Blue plasticine are placed on advancing and retreating sides respectively. The degree of mixing is indicated by the intensity of generated green. Digital images of the cross section in weld nugget region are taken. To obtain hue component of these digital images the RGB color-maps are converted to HSV color-maps. Overall, these studies help in formulating the guidelines which are useful during tool design, and administering the process to obtain a defect free well mixed welds. Based on the experimental results following conclusions are derived. 1. Following process aspects: tool geometry, interface offset, tool rotation and tool runout demonstrate a significant impact on material mixing and breaking and dispersion of initial interface in weld nugget. Tool tilt, plunge depth, tool traverse exhibit negligible effect on degree of mixing. 2. Increase in tool rotation speed (with other parameters fixed) improves mixing substantially but can be increased to a certain limit after which voids emerge due to loss of weld nugget material in the form of flash. 3. Reducing the weld pitch (i.e. increasing tool rotation speed for a given tool traverse speed) reduces the size of the weld nugget and vice versa. Tool traverse speed largely affects advancing side material and rotation speed affects retreating side material. Therefore, for higher weld pitch advancing side material (yellow plasticine) dominates the weld nugget, whereas for lower weld pitch retreating side material (blue plasticine) dominates the weld nugget. 4. The extended macro-structural feature commonly observed in FS welds occurs under influence of plunge depth. Consequently, this macro-structural feature serves as the demarcation point between shoulder affected and pin induced material flow in FS weld. 5. The degree of mixing and subsequent elimination of JLR, improves, when original interface is offset on the advancing side w.r.t tool axis for all the tools investigated in the present study. Triangular and square pin generate larger pin induced mixing which intensifies further with interface on advancing side, indicating tools with such profiles to possess larger safe zone with better mixing characteristics 6. At zero interface offset with all the process parameters fixed, tapered triangular and square pin profile tools produce welds with maximum mixing. For pins with faces, material is transported in lumps around the pin. The size of lump increases with lesser number of faces on pin. Material in the vicinity of the pin experiences spinning/whirling movement. The volume of material experiencing spinning in a single tool revolution depends on (a) weld-pitch (lesser volume of material for smaller weld pitch and vice versa) and (b) number of faces on the pin (lesser volume of material for greater number of faces and vice versa). Therefore, circular pin which can be considered to be made of infinite faces, spinning of material occurs at micro level for relatively smaller weld pitch. 7. For classical FS tool (tapered circular/frustum shape), there exists an optimum ratio (shoulder diameter/pin diameter) situated between 2.7 to 3.6 to produce void free well mixed welds. Tools with ratio of 2.7 and below possess a tendency to produce welds with void but with better mixing in weld region. Tools with ratio of 3.6 and above possess a tendency to produce void free welds but with poor mixing in weld region. Voids appear and grow under following circumstances (a) with increase in pin diameter (for a fixed shoulder diameter), (b) with decrease in shoulder diameter (for a fixed pin diameter), (c) with decrease in pin taper (for a fixed shoulder diameter and top diameter of pin). Pin length has no effect on void formation. However, it is obvious, length of root defect increases with decrease in pin length. The tooling guidelines established in this study through plasticine work can be extended to metallic friction stir welds of various thickness plates by proportionately increasing or decreasing the tool dimensions as long as they fall in the recommended range. 8. Smaller pin diameter tools exhibit higher optimum weld pitch (but with lower degree of mixing) when compared to larger pins (but with higher degree of mixing). Optimum weld pitch represents weld pitch resulting in void free welds. Consequently, tools with higher optimum weld pitch help in welding at a better rate. 9. Tool runout is replicated through tools with eccentric pins. It is interesting to note that, all the tools with pin eccentricities do not assist in mixing but tools with only certain eccentricities (0.3 and 0.6mm assisted in mixing in the present investigation). It implies that tool runout of certain values facilitate mixing in weld. On the other hand density of void increases with eccentricity of pin/tool runout. 10. In dissimilar FSW investigated with plasticine A, B, C and D possessing different flow stresses (flow stresses ascending in the order of A, B, C and D) and strain rate sensitivity of 0.24, 0.22, 0.19 and 0.18 respectively, following inferences are drawn (i) For combination A and B, weldability improves when plasticine B is on Advancing Side (AS) and A is on Retreating Side (RS). The level of mixing also improves when interface is on AS (w.r.t tool axis) for this handedness. On the contrary, severe discontinuities emerge when plasticine B is on RS and A is on AS, especially when interface is closer to the tool pin axis. (ii) For combination A and C, weldability improves when C is on AS and A is on RS. The level of mixing also enhances when interface is on AS (w.r.t tool axis) for this handedness. (iii) For combination A and D, joining is poor for both the handedness. However, nature of defect is different in both the combinations. Cracks are observed when A is located on AS and voids emerge when D is located on AS. On the other hand, placing A on AS results in weld thinning. (iv) For combination B and C, there is no appreciable change in terms of weldability and level of mixing. Both the handedness in this combination yielded fairly similar results. (v) For combination B and D, though discontinuities do not emerge with change in handedness, mixing in weld improves when B is on AS unlike to its location on RS. (vi) For combination C and D, there is no appreciable change in terms of defect formation and level of mixing with change in handedness. Both the handedness in this combination yield fairly similar results.