Study of hybrid welding repair process of friction stir welding grove defect

Abstract

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) repair process and GTAW+FSW (friction stir welding) hybrid repair process are studied to remove the large size groove defect formed during FSW. The experimental results indicate that the groove defect can be removed by both the repair processes. The tensile strength of the GTAW repair joint is only 55% of that of the base metal. The tensile fracture occurs at the transition zone between the weld zone and the heat affected zone, and the fracture surface of the repair joint is characterised by clear brittleness. In contrast, the GTAW+FSW hybrid repair joint has a high tensile strength equivalent to 70% of that of the base metal. The tensile fracture occurs at the overlap thermomechanically affected zone between the two FSW nuggets, and the fracture feature of the hybrid repair joint is partially plastic and partially brittle.