Effect of preheat and post heat on mechanical properties of 6061 aluminium tungsten inert gas welded joints

Abstract

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welded joints of 6061 aluminium are often used in the fuel tanks of large launch vehicles, because of the massive loads these vehicles carry, dealing with weld reinforcement on TIG joints represents an important issue in their preheat and post heat on mechanical properties. Experimental and calculation methods were used to investigate the effect of weld preheat and post heat on the mechanical properties of these joints. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preheat and post heat on mechanical properties of 6061 aluminium. The experimental result indicated that mechanical properties of Al 6061 of the welding changed. The hardness of weld metal increase in temperature 130°C = 68,72 BHN, in 160°C = 70,51 BHN, and in 190°C = 76,26 BHN. Tensile strength also increase in temperature 130°C = 158,57 N/mm2, in 160°C = 169,85 N/mm2, in 190°C = 174,50 N/mm2.