Investigating the Mechanical and Microstructural properties of Aluminium based Alloy Wheel Rims after TIG Welding

Abstract

The quantity of motor vehicles is increasing in our country as also seen in the world. From the fact that usage of minimum 4 wheels per a motor vehicle, increasing traffic accidents results by deformation of vehicles parts especially wheels in economic considerations. As nowadays road conditions taken into account, the accidents damage especially tires, wheels and deform the rims and even can break them. The rims that produced from aluminium based alloys that presents a nice view and also maintains satisfactory mechanical values versus their weights are deformed by customary road conditions are being unbended and even welded by automobile wheel repairers. Because of the aluminium based alloy made motor vehicles wheel rims are too expensive to buy, they may be repaired. Hence; the aim of this research will be helpfull in determining and questioning whether qualification of their strength properties is adequate or not after the rims have been repaired by welding. For this purpose in this study; mechanical and microstructural properties of weld metal of motor vehicles Aluminium based alloy wheel rims were investigated after TIG welding. The microstructures of base and weld metals are determined to be in close structure and microvickers hardness test results are also in near values between each other regionally. Aluminium bases alloy wheel rims can be repaired by TIG welding after deformation of them.