Weldability Investigation and Optimization of Process Variables for TIG-Welded Aluminium Alloy (AA 8006)

T. Sathish,Sivanraju Rajkumar,S. Tharmalingam,V. Mohanavel,M. Ravichandran,K. S. Ashraff Ali,Alagar Karthick,Ştefan Ţălu

doi:10.1155/2021/2816338

Abstract

Aluminium and its alloys play a significant role in engineering material applications due to its low weight ratio and superior corrosion resistance. The welding of aluminium alloy is challenging for the normal conventional arc welding processes. This research tries to resolve those issues by the Tungsten Inert Gas welding process. The TIG welding method is an easy, friendly process to perform welding. The widely applicable wrought aluminium AA8006 alloy, which was not considered for TIG welding in earlier studies, is considered in this investigation. For optimizing the number of experiments, the Taguchi experimental design of L9 orthogonal array type experimental design/plan was employed by considering major influencing process parameters like welding speed, base current, and peak current at three levels. The welded samples are included to investigate mechanical characterizations like surface hardness and strengths for standing tensile and impact loading. The results of the investigation on mechanical characterization of permanent joint of aluminium AA8006 alloy TIG welding were statistically analyzed and discussed. The 3D profilometric images of tensile-tested specimens were investigated, and they suggested optimized process parameters based on the result investigations.

Highlights

In recent trends, aluminium alloys have been broadly applied in various work fields, being simple in construction, carriage, and marine and advanced aerospace application like wing sections, etc
Tensile Strength. e influence of TIG welding process parameters on the strengths of weld was statistically analyzed by using Minitab 18 software, in which the experimental data are converted into mean and S/N ratios to determine the optimal process parameters. e response for means and SN ratio values is tabulated in Tables 8 and 9, respectively
Conclusions e experimental investigation of AA8006 TIG welding was carried out fruitfully. Mechanical properties such as Rockwell hardness, impact strength, and tensile strength were estimated with influence of chosen parameters, and the result of this investigation was concluded as follows: (i) e optimum parameter is determined from the tensile test analysis as PC3 BC1 WS1, and the optimal values are base current 55 Amps, followed by welding speed 140 mm/min and peak current 190 Amps

Summary

Introduction

Aluminium alloys have been broadly applied in various work fields, being simple in construction, carriage, and marine and advanced aerospace application like wing sections, etc. Its magnificent performance will be used to fabricate lightweight containers in sheet metal work. Aluminum alloys are in the same light time; they will be of high strength and flexible nature. E combination of good corrosion resistance and excellent wear resistance is possessed in aluminium alloys. E permanent and rigid joining of aluminum alloy was carried out through the welding process; in the normal welding process, aluminum alloy’s consolidation is challenging. Aluminium alloys are welded using TIG welding for various thicknesses of the specimen. The TIG welding process yields high quality welding joints (lesser defects), easy and faster than arc welding.

Methods

Results

Conclusion