Friction Stir Welding and Microstructure Simulation of HSLA-65 and Austenitic Stainless Steel
Author: Failla, David Michael, II
Degree: Master of Science, Ohio State University, Welding Engineering, 2009.
Committee / Advisors: John Lippold PhD (Advisor) Sudarsanam Babu PhD (Committee Member)

Abstract
   
Friction stir welding has recently become an attractive process for the joining of steels. Interest in using this welding process to join steels has become popular due to advancements in friction stir welding tool development. Wear resistant - high temperature tools have been developed, which allow friction stir welding of high melting temperature materials. One such material the U.S. Navy is interested in joining with friction stir welding is a high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA-65). The U.S. Navy plans to replace the current ship haul steel, DH-36, with HSLA-65, but conventional arc welding processes result with major distortion. A post-flame straitening process must be used to solve the distortion problem. Friction stir welding of HSLA-65 would result with less distortion, which would avoid subjecting the material to the flame straitening process. The work presented here on friction stir welding of HSLA-65 is a continuation of previous investigation conducted by Norton and Sinfield (1; 2). From these previous two studies, it was suggested that austenitic stainless steel be friction stir welded to observe the high temperature behavior of the stir zone material. During this investigation Type 310 stainless steel was friction stir welded to observe the resulting microstructure. A preheating method was tested during the friction stir welding of Type 310 stainless steel. Heat generation from frictional heating in austenitic stainless steel is difficult due to the low thermal conductivity. This is one of the reasons which contribute the difficulties of friction stir welding Type 310 stainless steel. The preheating method was used with successful results. A visually acceptable weld was produced with minimal weld discontinuities and the discontinuities which were present originated from embedded thermocouples. Friction stir welds were also conducted on HSLA-65 to determine the effects of various weld parameters on the resulting microstructure. A high and low tool rotational speed with other weld variables constant was tested. The resulting microstructures from these two welds were similar, which indicated that tool rotational speed is a robust weld parameter. A high and low travel speed with other weld variables constant was tested. The results indicated that travel speed affects the resulting microstructure much more than variations in tool rotational speed. Hot torsion tests were conducted on Type 310 and 304L stainless steel using the Gleeble torsion unit. The purpose of the hot torsion tests were to simulate the microstructure which results from friction stir welding these material and to collect torque data so estimated shear flow stress data could be calculated. The torsion tests successfully simulated the different regions of a Type 310 friction stir weld and simulated most regions of a Type 304L friction stir weld. Estimated shear flow stress values generated during the testing were calculated for both materials, with shear flow stress in Type 310 being greater than the shear flow stress in Type 304L. The reported results from the friction stir welding of Type 310 and HSLA-65, along with the calculated shear flow stress value from the hot torsion testing are intended to aid in the development of the US Navy’s friction stir welding simulation model for HSLA-65.
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http://search.ohiolink.edu/etd/send-pdf.cgi/Failla%20David%20Michael%20II.pdf?osu1243969697

Enjoy the reading... I know I will!! :) :) :)

Respectfully,
Henry