Joining of Carbon Steel AISI 1006 to Aluminum Alloy AA6061-T6 Via Friction Spot Joining Technique

Abstract This work aims to join sheets of carbon steel to aluminum alloy AA6061. A lap joint arrangement was used with a joint lap area of dimensions * 25 25 mm. The joining procedure was carried out using a rotating tool of 10 mm shoulder diameter. Three process parameters, with three levels for each parameter, were selected to investigate their effects on joints quality. The parameter’s levels for each experiment were designed using the design of the experiment method (DOE). The results indicated that the two materials were joined by a mechanical interlock at an interface line, without formation of intermetallic compounds. The shear force of the joint reached an ultimate value of. 482kN. The shear force of the joint improved by increasing plunging depth of the tool. Samples of minimum shear force value failed by a pull-outing aluminum metal from the carbon steel specimen. Samples of higher shear force value exhibited a shear mode of fracture. Increasing the rotating speed and decreasing pre-heating increased the process temperature.