Characteristics and Weldability of Resistance Plug Welding of Dissimilar Steels

TRIP980 high-strength steel plate/SPCC low-carbon steel plate were welded by RPW. The key factors such as size and material of filler were studied, and the structure, fusion ratio and mechanical properties of the RPW joint were analyzed. The experimental results show that the calculation formulas of the length and diameter of the filler were designed reasonably. Q235 as a filler for RPW of TRIP980 high-strength steel plate/SPCC low-carbon steel plate is suitable according to schaeffler organization chart. The deposited metal of RPW joint is in the shape of “spool”,and the base metal and cap of deposited metal are alternately combined. The deposited metal has the characteristics of “locking” as rivets, which is beneficial to the improvement of mechanical properties of RPW joint. The nugget of RPW joint is uniform without deviates. TRIP980 high-strength steel plate, SPCC low-carbon steel plate, and filler were metallurgically bonded in the RPW joint.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar steel plate resistance plug welding joints

A new type of hybrid welding method called resistance plug welding （RPW） was firstly adopted to achieve the connecting of dissimilar steel, mainly as for the poor welding characteristics of high strength steel produced by increasing carbon, manganese, silicon, etc. Microstructures and mechanical properties of RPW joint were analyzed by optical microscope,micro-hardness test and shear tensile measurement. Experimental results indicate that the RPW joint has a rounded rectangle nugget ^ and the size is larger than elliptical nugget of resistance spot welding （RSW） jo in t; the hardness value of RPW joint is evenly distributed, accordingly there is no hard brittle phases ; the shear tensile strength o f RPW joint increases by 20% in comparison with RSW joint under the same welding conditions.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction pull plug welding for2219-T87 aluminum alloy with tungsten inert gas weld

The friction pull plug welding(FPPW)of the 2219-T87 tungsten inert gas(TIG)welded joint was investigated,and the microstructures,precipitate evolution,mechanical properties,and fracture morphologies of this joint were analyzed and discussed.In this study,defectfree joints were obtained using a rotational speed of 7000 r/min,an axial feeding displacement of 12 mm,and an axial force of 20-22 kN.The results indicated that within these welding parameters,metallurgical bonding between the plug and plate is achieved by the formation of recrystallized grains.The microstructural features of the FPPW joint can be divided into different regions,including the heat-affected zone(HAZ),thermomechanically affected zone(TMAZ),recrystallization zone(RZ),heat-affected zone in the TIG weld(TIG-HAZ),and the thermomechanically affected zone in the TIG weld(TIG-TMAZ).In the TIG-TMAZ,the grains were highly deformed and elongated due to the shear and the extrusion that produces the plug during the FPPW process.The main reason for the softening in the TMAZ is determined to be the dissolution ofθ’and coarsening ofθprecipitate particles.In a tensile test,the FPPW joint welded with an axial force of 22 kN showed the highest ultimate tensile strength of 237 MPa.The locations of cracks and factures in the TIG-TMAZ were identified.The fracture morphology of the tensile sample showed good plasticity and toughness of the joints.

Improving the Weld Formation and Mechanical Properties of the AA-5A06 Friction Pull Plug Welds by Axial Force Control

In the present study, the weld formation and mechanical properties of the AA-5A06 friction pull plug welded(FPPW) joints were improved by controlling the axial force history. Several defect-free FPPW joints were made successfully by using the welding parameters of 15–20 k N/s axial loading rate, 20–30 k N axial welding force and 6–7 mm axial feeding displacement. The results indicated that using higher axial loading rate and axial welding force produced more stable heat generation and shorter frictional heating time between the frictional interface. In this case, the plastic flow of the materials around the hole could be further improved since the axial feeding displacement of the plug was increased. The maximum ultimate tensile strength(UTS) and elongation of the FPPW 5A06 joints were 314 MPa and 4.8%, respectively. The thermal mechanically affect zone(TMAZ) had the lowest hardness value throughout the joint and was found as the fracture location to all the tensile samples. The softening of TMAZ was mainly caused by the weakening of the cold work hardening and the coarsening of grains.