Numerical and Experimental Analyses of Developed Friction Stir Spot Welding (DFSSW) Based on Systematic Design Process Approach

This research paper presents a developed technique for Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW) to join similar aluminum sheets (6061), and then this technique was analyzed critically based on numerical simulation and experimental work. The objective of this Developed Friction Stir Spot Welding (DFSSW) is to avoid or at least reduce the keyhole defects by optimizing the design parameters of the process. The coupling problem (thermomechanical) was solved numerically using the finite element method to find the variations of temperatures and stress distributions in addition to the applied forces by the tool. Different parameters were considered in the numerical analysis, such as rotational speed and plunge depth. The experimental results proved the success of the developed technique by comparing the available results of tensile shear force with the results of other researchers that applied the traditional FSSW. It was obtained the highest tensile shear force (2388 N) under the optimal working and design conditions, when the rotational speed, plunging depth, height, and diameter of the sliced disc were 2100 rpm, 0.3 mm, 3.5 mm, and 12 mm, respectively. It was found that both the diameter and height of the sliced disc are significant parameters that ensure the success of this new technique when selecting the suitable values for these parameters. Otherwise, selecting unsuitable values of these parameters leads to appearing defects (e.g., flash) or the sample will fail under a low level of tensile shear force. The other essential advantage outcome point of this new technique was reducing the defect of the keyhole significantly compared with the results of typical Friction Stir Spot Welding. According to the results of the promising developed welding procedure that can be automated, it can be used widely in the industrial sectors.