Determination of the optimum welding parameters for ultimate tensile strength and hardness in friction stir welding of Cu/Al plates using Taguchi method

Abstract

In this study, the effect of welding parameters on the performance characteristic in the friction stir welding of Cu/Al plates were experimentally investigated. Experiments were designed according to Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. The evaluation of the experimental results was based on the signal/noise (S/N) ratio. Control factors that given optimum ultimate tensile strength and vickers hardness values determined by using Taguchi method. Three different tool rotational speeds (525, 1025 and 1525 rev/min), tool transverse speeds (50, 75 and 100 mm/min) and tool positions (0, 0.75 and 1.5 mm) as control factors have been selected. Optimal values of variables which were obtained using the S/N ratios were found at the same levels for ultimate tensile strength and hardness. According to the variance analysis results, the most significant variable affecting to ultimate tensile strength and hardness values was determined as tool position. Furthermore, for ultimate tensile strength and hardness values, first degree regression model was created by utilizing MINITAB 17 program.