Friction Stir Processing of 6061 Aluminum Alloys — 49p — Gabriela Ramirez, Amlan Karr, Todd Curtis

This study investigates the effects of friction stir processing (FSP) on metal inert gas (MIG) welded materials. The goal of the investigation is to repair defects in AM2 airfield matting and enhance the mechanical properties of the repaired areas. Airfield matting is crucial for creating safe temporary runways on rough terrain for aircraft. Comprehensive microstructural and mechanical analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of FSP on the targeted regions. Results from hardness and tensile tests indicate that FSP significantly strengthens the metal by creating a uniform elemental matrix and reducing the effects of distortion in the metal, allowing the strength and ductility to increase. Microscopic analysis shows that FSP works to minimize impurities such as pores within the matrix and minimize grain size, overall increasing the mechanical properties of the metal as crack propagation is less likely to occur.

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Grant Crawford