Effect of welding parameters on the strain rate and microstructure of friction stir spot welded 2024 aluminum alloy

The stir zone microstructure, crystallographic texture, temperature and strain rate in the stir zones produced during Al 2024 spot welding using different tool rotational speed settings are investigated. The calculated strain rate during spot welding decreases from 1600 to 0.6 s−1 when the tool rotational speed increases from 750 to 3000 rpm. The low strain rate values are associated with tool slippage resulting from spontaneous melting of S phase particles at temperatures ≥490 °C. However, the calculated strain rate is 1600 s−1 in Al 2024 spot welds made using tool rotational speed of 750 rpm since the temperature never reaches 490 °C. Material transfers downwards via that pin thread during the dwell period in Al 2024 spot welding. It is proposed that this downward transfer of material provides a continuous supply of undissolved S phase particles, which melt spontaneously when the welding parameter settings produce stir zone temperatures ≥490 °C. A weak crystallographic texture where the {100} planes are oriented at about 45° to the θ-direction exists in the stir zones of spot welds made using different tool rotational speeds (from 750 to 3000 rpm). Another crystallographic texture where the {100} planes are parallel to the Z-direction (to the tool axis) is stronger in spot welds made using higher tool rotational speed settings. Also, material located at the root of the pin thread has a quite different crystallographic texture from that in the bulk of the stir zone.