Radiography examination of friction stir welds of dissimilar aluminum alloys

Abstract

Welding is a crucial joining technique that is generally embraced in the fabrication industry. The quality of weld is crucial due to the social, economic, environment and safety implications. This paper provides an overview of a non-destructive testing (NDT) principle and their application in the welding of metal matrix composites for joints integrity assessment. In this study, a case study of friction stir welding (FSW) and the radiographic examination of welds were investigated. The welds from the friction stir welding (FSW) of AA6082-T6 and AA7075-T6 aluminium alloys were respectively subjected to radiographic examination. The results of the radiation inspection were analyzed and compared with a control reference. The mechanical reliability of the welds was improved as against the radiography testing which captured microscopic level of defect. It was established that the integrity of welds depends on the accuracy of the welding technique, the chemistry of the parent materials, and the processing parameters.