Prediction of hardness minimum locations during natural aging in an aluminum alloy 6061-T6 friction stir weld
- ORNL
- University of Manchester, UK
This study describes a simple model that can predict the evolution of hardness distribution as a function of natural aging time in a heat-treatable 6061-T6 Al alloy plate subjected to friction stir welding (FSW). First, two dimensional thermal distributions were simulated as a function of time in the FSW plate by finite element modeling. Second, the hardness changes during natural aging were measured as a function of aging time for a number of Al specimens that had been previously isothermally heat-treated to different hold temperatures in order to determine the natural aging kinetics. Finally, the simulated temperature profiles and the natural aging kinetics were correlated to predict the hardness profiles in the FSW plate. The predicted hardness variations are consistent with measured hardness profiles in that the location of minimum hardness moves away from the centerline as the aging time and/or heat input increases. The hardness variation was also related to the location of failure in cross-weld tensile samples.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); High Flux Isotope Reactor; High Temperature Materials Laboratory
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EE USDOE - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1024644
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Science, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Science Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 44; ISSN 0022-2461
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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