Optimization of friction stir welding process for joining of aluminum to steel

搅拌摩擦焊(FSW)是一种固态焊接工艺，可以对多种难以焊接的材料进行高质量的焊接。由于所使用的能量输入较低，FSW可创建高强度的接头，同时减少变形。由于能够处理大批量生产所固有的变化，搅拌摩擦焊的优势还包括改进的工艺稳健性和降低的生产成本。搅拌摩擦焊在制造轻质结构方面迅速获得认可。对提高燃油经济性的日益增长的需求推动了交通工具用创新铝产品的开发。然而，汽车上使用的大部分结构都是钢的，在钢结构中使用轻质材料引起了人们的极大兴趣。钢和铝合金的组合在制造中的使用越来越多，人们已经投入了大量的努力来焊接钢和铝合金。

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process, which can produce high quality welds of several materials difficult to weld. Due to the low energy input used, FSW creates high strength joints with reduced distortion. Being capable of handling variations inherent to high volume production, advantages of FSW also include improved process robustness and reduced production costs. FSW has rapidly gained acceptance for the manufacturing of lightweight structures. The rising demands for improved fuel economy have driven the efforts for the development of innovative aluminum products for transportation vehicles. However, the majority of the structures used in vehicle involve steel and the employment of lightweight materials in steel structures is of great interest. The use of the combination of steel and aluminum alloys has been increasing in fabrication and many efforts to weld steel to aluminum alloy have been invested.