Effects of the tool rotational speed and shoulder penetration depth on mechanical properties and failure modes of friction stir spot welds of aluminum 2024-T3 sheets

In this work, friction stir spot welding with 1.6 mm thickness of the 2024-T3 aluminum alloy is carried out. The effects of the tool rotational speed and shoulder penetration depth on surface appearance, macrostructure, temperature profile, maximum failure load and failure modes are investigated. Results show that, the effect of the tool rotational speed on maximum tensile shear load is similar to the effect of the shoulder penetration depth, increasing tool rotational speed and shoulder penetration depth resulted in the increase of the tensile shear load. Maximum load of about 8282 N is obtained by using 1000 rpm rotational speed and 0.7 mm shoulder penetration depth. Observation of the failed specimens indicates two types of failure modes under tensile shear loading, the shear fracture that occurs in low shoulder penetration depths and tensile shear fracture that occurs in high shoulder penetration depths.