FG Füge- und Schweißtechnik
Crystallography and Mechanical Properties of Wire Arc Additively Manufactured Al5356 Components
(2021)
In this study, we present results of the evolution of the crystallographic texture and imperfections, as well as the corresponding mechanical properties of wire and arc additively manufactured (WAAM) Al5356 specimens, studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile testing, respectively. The results show that the phase composition is in the form of a face-centred cubic (fcc) crystal structure, corresponding to the base material, as well as some traces of oxide phase Al2O3. The WAAM specimen growing is accompanied by a slight change in the preferred crystallographic orientation, from (111) to (200) and a decrease in the imperfections concentration. Also, it was found that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation slightly decrease from the initial to the more advanced stages of growth.
Analysis of temperature field during electron beam welding of hot crack sensitive nickel base alloy
(2021)
The use of temperature-resistant nickel-based superalloys in the field of industrial gas turbines is increasing due to constantly rising operating temperatures. Among different joining methods the electron beam welding is commonly used for manufacturing of turbine components because it provides a reduced heat input. However, the highly localized beam impact causes high temperature gradients and leads to the formation of hot cracks. Welding of such material with a high brittle temperature range is challenging and needs an increasing effort of process adaption. Experiments indicate a significant improvement of hot crack susceptibility when welding outside the common welding parameter range. To understand these observations a study of the temperature field in the specimens using numerical simulations was carried out. For this purpose, a validated simulation model was used. Special attention was paid to the domain in close vicinity of the weld pool. The results illustrate the velocity of solidification isotherm as well as the temperature rates when crossing the melting point. Finally, the relations between thermal fields, crack types and distributions in the different specimens are discussed.
Impulse Friction Stir Welding (IFSW) was utilized to join 6082–T6 alloy plates at various impulse frequencies. A distinctive feature of IFSW is the generation of mechanical impulses that enhances the forging action of the tool, and thereby, alters the weld microstructure. The microstructural evolution in the Stir Zone (SZ) with special focus on the strengthening precipitation behavior, and overall mechanical properties of the IFSW joints have been investigated. It was demonstrated that the strengthening β″ precipitates reprecipitated in the SZ of the IFSW joints during natural aging. In contrast, no precipitates were found in the SZ of the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) weld. Partial reversion of β″ after IFSW is supposed to occur due to more developed subgrain network and higher dislocation density introduced by impulses that accelerated precipitation kinetics. Dynamic recrystallisation was facilitated by impulses resulting in a fine, homogeneous structure. There was no significant difference between the microhardness in the SZ, tensile and yield strength of the FSW and IFSW joints. However, the application of impulses demonstrated the smoothing of the hardness reduction in the transition region at the advancing side. The shift of the fracture location from the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) by FSW to the SZ as well as higher elongation of the joints by IFSW of lower frequencies could be related to the grain refinement and the change of the grain orientation.
Mixing of steel and aluminum within the weld pool during keyhole laser welding results in a complex dissimilar microstructure, which in turn, initiates a shift in weld metal mechanical properties. In this study, a numerical model for computation of distortions in laser-welded dissimilar overlap joints (austenitic stainless steel 304 – 6082-T6 aluminum alloy), which considers properties of the mixed steel-aluminum weld metal was developed. The required yield strength, Young's modulus, and strain hardening exponent of the weld metal were experimentally determined using the indentation technique coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The designed material model calculates the weld elastic-plastic properties as a function of the aluminum concentration. The softening of the alloys in the heat-affected zone was determined by physical simulations and considered as a function of maximum temperature. Computed and measured distortions showed good agreement for various welding regimes with an average deviation of 18.4%. The sensitivity analyses indicated that the application of the developed weld material model significantly improves the accuracy of the thermomechanical simulations.