Abstract
Vought has completed a program of static, fatigue life, and fatigue crack growth tests on 7075-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum alloy specimens joined by the friction stir welding (FSW) process. The static tests evaluated the unnotched tension and open hole tension strength of FSW coupons. The open hole tension tests also assessed the FSW material notch sensitivity to hole location at the weld centerline or in the heat affected zone (HAZ). The fatigue life and fatigue crack growth tests evaluated the fatigue performance of parent material coupons and FSW coupons in laboratory air, room temperature and high humidity air, room temperature environments. This paper discusses in detail the results of these tests. The influence of the friction stir welding process is highlighted through comparison with coupon test results generated on specimens of parent material.