2010 Volume 10 Issue Special_Issue Pages s168-s173
High strain-rate compressive response of friction stir welded AA6061-T6 joints in the thickness direction was examined using the conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar. AA6061-T6 sheets of about 5 mm in thickness were friction stir welded in the butt joint configuration. The friction stir welding conditions were varied by altering a welding speed, keeping a rotational speed constant. Micro-hardness tests were conducted across the centerline of FS welded joints to identity the microstructural change. Cylindrical specimens machined along the thickness direction of both FS welds and the base material were used in the low and high strain-rate compression tests. The low strain-rate tests were carried out in an Instron testing machine. The effects of strain rate and welding speed on the flow stress and strain hardening rate of both the FS welds and the base material were studied.
