Abstract
This paper investigates the appearance and the mechanical properties of the friction stir welded plates with different parameters. The induced heat during the welding process plays the main role in the mechanical properties and appearance of the welded joints. Defect free joints obtained at rotational speeds of 1000 and 1300 rpm, while kissing bond occurred at a combination of low rotational speed of 560 rpm and high welding speed of 2 mm/s. The grain size of the stir zone, thermo-mechanically affected zone and heat-affected zone measured and analyzed at different welding parameters. The mechanical properties of the welded joints have been evaluated through microhardness and tensile tests at room temperature. In this investigation, a sound welded joints with maximum tensile strength produced at rotational speed of 1000 rpm, welding speed of 1.5 mm/s, and welding tool shoulder diameter of 24 mm. Published by Elsevier Ltd.