Effect of Post Processing Time Interval Between TIG Welded and Friction Stir Processing of Aluminium Joint

The present work is an attempt to analyse the effect of post processing time interval between friction stir processing and TIG welded aluminium joint to overcome the defects and increase the strength of the weld. Friction stir processing was carried out on each TIG welded AA5083 aluminium joints with filler wire ER 5356. Experimental studies for time interval 0 minutes, 45 minutes and 90 minutes varying current rate, gas flow rate and feeding rod diameter using Taguchi design of experiments. The samples were subjected to determine the ultimate tensile strength and hardness. The experimental data so obtained was used to obtain the regression equation using Taguchi design of experiments. The equation so obtained was used for parametric investigations for time intervals with a span of 15 minutes in order to determine the variations in the mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength and hardness. It was found that Friction stir processed TIG welded joints produced better results with regards to ultimate strength and hardness if the time interval between TIG and Friction stir processing was reduced.