Experimental Investigation of Hardness and Surface Roughness in the Friction Stir Welding of the 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

The interesting process of friction stir welding (FSW) has become popular for connecting a variety of materials. It is crucial for the industry to have an effective assembly process that uses little energy and has a lot of potential regarding mechanical strength. However, the complexity and unpredictability of FSW joints means that their behavior has a significant impact on the dynamic properties of such structures.

Therefore, the primary goal of this research project is to experimentally investigate the impact of rotational speed and feed rate on the surface condition of joints. The study takes into account the variance in surface roughness (Rz), which is crucial when determining the quality of joints. These experiments will help researchers to better understand how these two characteristics affect the surface quality of joints. Such knowledge is crucial for the industry because it may help to develop effective FSW joints with increased mechanical strength.