Friction Stir Welding of Non-Heat-Treatable High-Strength Alloy 5083-O

5083 aluminum alloy is increasingly used because of its excellent corrosion resistance, high work-hardening rate, and strength. In order to improve its weldability and feasibility, material behavior, material flow, and defects induced while friction stir welding 5083 should be studied. In this study, they were investigated by thermo-structural analysis. The flow stress of 5083-O has a high rate of sensitivity among high temperatures and wide strain rate ranges. Therefore, the details of the mechanical properties of 5083-O at high temperatures and wide strain rate ranges were investigated to obtain reasonable analysis results using a precise flow stress model. The tool/workpiece interface temperature during FSW is critical for accurate analysis results. This study used special equipment to measure tool temperature in order to investigate the interface temperatures precisely, and then the obtained data were used for optimization and verification of the thermal boundary conditions for analysis modeling. Using the developed model, the material behavior and material flow during FSW of 5083-O were analyzed. The tool and workpiece interface temperatures, flow stresses, strain rates, and velocities were investigated with the cylinder and threaded probes in detail. One of the analysis results indicated that the material flow rate on the rear side of a probe directly affected defect generation while joining.