Mechanical properties of aluminium alloy 6082-T6 plate and butt weld joint: Experimental test, numerical modelling and application

Abstract

Aluminium alloy has high mechanical properties and is widely used in manufacturing vehicles to reduce weight. This paper describes an experimental and numerical study of the mechanical properties of aluminium 6082-T6 plates and butt weld joints. Experiments were conducted on three 6082-T6 plates and three butt weld joint specimens, and then stress-strain curves were obtained and analyzed. Finite element (FE) models were developed and validated against the test results. Based on the test and numerical data, the application of the strength analysis of an electrical commercial truck frame with aluminium 6082-T6 using the finite element method was illustrated. The results show that compared with the base metal, the tensile strength of the butt weld joint is significantly reduced since the welding heat affected zone became a weak part of the joint. The results of the case study show that strength analysis of the truck frame with aluminium 6082-T6 using the FE method can be performed based on mechanical performances obtained in this study.