Optimization of friction stir welding parameters during joining of AA3103 and AA7075 aluminium alloys using Taguchi method

Abstract

This paper investigates the optimization of input parameters for the friction stir welding of AA3103 and AA7075 aluminium alloys. The properties of base materials AA3103 are non-heat-treatable alloy, which is having good weldability while AA 7075 is having higher strength. Therefore, the welding of these aluminium alloys will produce superior mechanical properties. Friction stir welding is a rapidly growing welding process which is being widely used in marine, automobile and aerospace industries. Rather than its widespread use, this type of welding has several advantages over normal welding processes like low production of fume, no consumable electrodes are used and can be used in any position. In this paper, optimization of input parameters were conducted based on Taguchi method using the L9 orthogonal array. There were nine experimental runs in total after creating the L9 orthogonal array table in MINITAB software. The input parameters selected for optimization are tool rotation speed, feed rate, tool pin profile the output parameters which are optimized hardness, tensile strength, impact strength. The ANOVA analysis was carried out in the Qualitek 4 software to find out the percentage influence of input parameters on the output parameters. This research work was carried out to find the optimized condition to carry out friction stir welding of above mentioned aluminium alloys.