FLEXIBLE NONCONVENTIONAL HYBRID WELDING SYSTEM FSW-US

Abstract

Welding and metalworking technologies, which use ultrasonic vibration either as a primary source to achieve the prescribed operation or as an auxiliary source to improve operation efficiency and product quality, are current in international and applied international research. By assisting the ultrasonic vibration welding process, certain advantages are ensured related to the improvement of the components' behavior during the process, as well as the mechanical properties and the final quality of the joints. These advantages which, compared to conventional processes, lead to remarkable and globalized applications of ultrasonic vibration in welding. The research undertaken within ISIM led to the development of an experimental model of friction welding with rotating active element (FSW - Friction Stir Welding), equipped with an ultrasonic assistance system (US). Specialized software programs were used for constructive simulation and sizing of appropriate sonotrodes, for the frequencies of 20, 35, and 40 kHz, developed and tested to interface them in the construction of the experimental model used. The joining parts on which the sonotrodes were tested is the aluminum alloy EN AW 1200.