Abstract
In-plane tensile and through-thickness compressive stress-strain characteristics of Al alloy 2024-T3 and its butt welds made by the friction stir welding (FSW) process are studied. FS welded AA 2024-T3 butt joints are produced under a fixed set of appropriate welding conditions. Microhardness tests are performed to examine the microstructural change occurring during the FSW process. In-plane tensile and through-thickness compressive tests on the base material and the FS welds are carried out in an Instron testing machine. Flat tension specimens are machined perpendicular to the weld line of each FS weld. Cylindrical compression specimens are machined along the thickness direction of the base material, heat-affected zones and nugget regions in the FS welds. It is shown that their tensile and compressive stress-strain behavior can be adequately modeled by a three-parameter Ramberg-Osgood equation.
