Abstract
In this study a thick section (20 mm) friction stir welded AA2017A-T451 has been characterized in terms of microstructure, crystallographic texture and mechanical properties. For microstructural analysis both optical and scanning electron microscopes have been used. A detailed crystallographic texture analysis has been carried out using the electron back scattering diffraction technique. Crystallographic texture has been examined in both shoulder and probe affected regions of the weld NG. An entirely weak texture is observed at the shoulder affected region which is mainly explained by the effect of the sequential multi pass deformation experienced by both tool probe and tool shoulder. The texture in the probe dominated region at the AS side of the weld is relatively weak but still assembles the simple shear texture of FCC metals with B/(b) over bar and C components existing across the whole map. However, the texture is stronger at the RS than at the AS of the weld, mainly dominated by B/(B) over bar components and with C component almost absent across the map. An alternating bands between (B) components and (B) component are observed only at the AS side of the weld. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.