Mechanical Interlocking of an Aluminum Alloy and SS400 Structural Steel through Friction-Stir Spot Forming (FSSF)

摘要

In the present study, a novel method for mechanically interlocking the dissimilar alloys of A6061-T6 aluminum alloy and SS400 structural steel using friction-stir forming (FSF) is suggested. In this study, the aluminum alloy is placed on top of a steel sheet containing a screwed hole. The present study suggests that friction-stir spot forming (FSSF) can be used to form a mechanical interlock between the aluminum alloy and steel sheet. FSSF is conducted on top of the aluminum alloy, which produces sufficient heat to plasticize the aluminum alloy. This results in a flow of aluminum into the screw hole in the steel, due to the plastic deformation, thereby mechanically interlocking the aluminum with the steel. Moreover, with the proposed method, the authors present a new concept of an easily separable joining of dissimilar alloys. The mechanical properties of the developed interlock are investigated through tensile and hardness tests and microstructural observation.