Product Code: ICAL06_1905

Hybrid Laser Welding and Friction Stir Welding Applied to 6056 Aluminium Alloy
Authors:
Eric Geerinckx, VITO; Mol Belgium
Jan Gedopt, VITO; Mol Belgium
Jo Verwimp, VITO; Mol Belgium
Wim Van Haver, Belgian Welding Institute; Ghent Belgium
Presented at ICALEO 2006

Innovative welding processes are continuously gaining industrial interest. Both hybrid laser welding (HLW) and friction stir welding (FSW) are automated welding processes which allow achieving high quality joints in aluminum alloys, in combination with a high productivity. It is important to assess the capability of the processes, not only in terms of weld quality but also in terms of productivity and profitability. The EN AW-6056 alloy is a recent high strength weldable AlMgSiCu alloy, which is utilised in aviation. This alloy, with a thickness of 2,5 mm, was subjected to HLW and FSW. The optimisation procedure which was used for HLW to assess the most appropriate welding parameters will be discussed in detail. A comparison is made between the mechanical properties in the as-welded and in the T78 post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) temper. Fatigue testing of unnotched welded specimens with a ratio of maximum stress to minimum stress equal to 0,1 was applied to this alloy in the PWHT condition. Results obtained with both welding techniques are compared and discussed in this paper.