In this paper, an examination of dissimilar wrought and heat treated AZ31 spot welds (AZ31/AZ31HT) was conducted to allow visualisation of material flow based on their differing etching characteristics. The results indicated that dissimilar AZ31/AZ31HT welds could successfully mirror the material flow in friction stir spot welding. The upper sheet material moved downwards towards the rotational pin, whereas the lower sheet material displaced upwards and outwards during the penetrate stage, and then moved inwards towards the keyhole after reached the base of the shoulder.
FujimotoM., KogaS., AbeN., SatoY. and KokawaH.: ‘Analysis of plastic flow of the Al alloy joint produced by friction stir spot welding’, J. Jpn Weld. Soc., 2005, 26, 67–73.
2.
KalagaraS., Muci-KuchlerK. H. and ArbegastW. J.: ‘Preliminary study of material flow in friction stir spot welding using copper as marker material’, Frict. Stir Weld. Process. IV, 2007, 349–358
3.
SuP., GerlichA. P., NorthT. H. and BendzsakG. J.: ‘Material flow during friction stir spot welding’, Sci. Technol. Weld. Join., 2006, 11, 61–71
4.
SuP., GerlichA. P., NorthT. H. and BendzsakG. J.: ‘Intermixing in dissimilar friction stir spot welds’, Metall. Trans. A, 2007, 38A, 584–595
5.
ZettlerR., J. F. dos Santos, T. Donath, F. Beckmann and D. Lohwasser: ‘Material flow in friction stir butt welded aluminium alloys’, Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on ‘Friction stir welding’, St. Sauveur, Que., Canada, October 2006, TWI Ltd, Paper 29.
