Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is known for its environmentally friendly characteristics and energy efficiency. The geometry of the tool holds significant importance in FSW, playing a crucial role in ensuring satisfactory welds. In the present work, optimization of tool geometry is carried out...

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Main Authors: Anmol Bhatia, Reeta Wattal, Rajeev Kumar, Anant Prakash Agrawal, Saurabh Dewangan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00292-w
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author Anmol Bhatia
Reeta Wattal
Rajeev Kumar
Anant Prakash Agrawal
Saurabh Dewangan
author_facet Anmol Bhatia
Reeta Wattal
Rajeev Kumar
Anant Prakash Agrawal
Saurabh Dewangan
author_sort Anmol Bhatia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is known for its environmentally friendly characteristics and energy efficiency. The geometry of the tool holds significant importance in FSW, playing a crucial role in ensuring satisfactory welds. In the present work, optimization of tool geometry is carried out for the FSW of 3 mm thick AISI 1018 carbon steel. A tungsten carbide tool containing 7 wt.% cobalt with a tapered pin profile—identified as the optimal configuration—was employed for the welding process. The FSW joint was subjected to microstructure examination and tensile testing for weld quality. The results revealed that optimized tool geometry enhanced the weld quality. The welded joints revealed an 18% increase in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than the base metal (BM). Microstructural observations in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat-affected zone (HAZ) were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and analyzed with ImageJ software. The present study demonstrated a significant increment in the ultimate tensile strength of the joint obtained by incorporating the optimized parameters, additionally, the microstructures were uniform throughout the TMAZ and HAZ. Fractography of the ruptured sample revealed a dimpled region indicating ductile failure.
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spelling doaj-art-e353ad96b1fc4e87845bb545682d70982025-08-20T02:31:00ZengSpringerDiscover Materials2730-77272025-06-015111110.1007/s43939-025-00292-wTool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steelAnmol Bhatia0Reeta Wattal1Rajeev Kumar2Anant Prakash Agrawal3Saurabh Dewangan4Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, The NorthCap UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Noida Institute of Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Noida Institute of Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University JaipurAbstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is known for its environmentally friendly characteristics and energy efficiency. The geometry of the tool holds significant importance in FSW, playing a crucial role in ensuring satisfactory welds. In the present work, optimization of tool geometry is carried out for the FSW of 3 mm thick AISI 1018 carbon steel. A tungsten carbide tool containing 7 wt.% cobalt with a tapered pin profile—identified as the optimal configuration—was employed for the welding process. The FSW joint was subjected to microstructure examination and tensile testing for weld quality. The results revealed that optimized tool geometry enhanced the weld quality. The welded joints revealed an 18% increase in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than the base metal (BM). Microstructural observations in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat-affected zone (HAZ) were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and analyzed with ImageJ software. The present study demonstrated a significant increment in the ultimate tensile strength of the joint obtained by incorporating the optimized parameters, additionally, the microstructures were uniform throughout the TMAZ and HAZ. Fractography of the ruptured sample revealed a dimpled region indicating ductile failure.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00292-wTool geometry optimizationTungsten carbideCarbon steelFriction stir-weldingMicrostructures
spellingShingle Anmol Bhatia
Reeta Wattal
Rajeev Kumar
Anant Prakash Agrawal
Saurabh Dewangan
Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
Discover Materials
Tool geometry optimization
Tungsten carbide
Carbon steel
Friction stir-welding
Microstructures
title Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
title_full Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
title_fullStr Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
title_full_unstemmed Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
title_short Tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
title_sort tool geometry optimization for enhanced mechanical properties in friction stir welding of carbon steel
topic Tool geometry optimization
Tungsten carbide
Carbon steel
Friction stir-welding
Microstructures
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00292-w
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