Formability of friction stir welded sheets made of AA 6061-T6 at different weld orientations and weld locations

The aim of present work is to study the influence of weld orientation and weld location on the formability of friction stir welded (FSW) blanks made of 6061T6 sheet. FSW sheets with 0°, 45° and 90° weld orientations, and weld locations, at zero offset, at 5 mm offset, and at 10 mm offset from the geometric centre are deformed. Formability is quantified by the forming limit curve (FLC). FLCs of FSW blanks are better than that of un–welded sheets. The FLC of FSW sheets with 0° weld orientation is better than 45° and 90° orientations. The limit strains of FSW sheet with 45° weld orientation and 90° weld orientations are almost the same. The FSW sheets with weld at centre location show better formability, followed by 5 mm offset and 10 mm offset locations. The failure location is seen at the retreating side of the weld zone.