Evaluation of 7050 Aluminum Plates Joined by Friction Stir Welding Using Acoustoelastic

The 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy has been widely used in the aerospace industry. Due to its chemical composition, this alloy has high levels of mechanical properties that allow the production of low-weight aircraft structural components. However, these alloys are thermally treatable and are not able to bear manufacturing processes involving heat. Because of the importance of their applications, studies based on the development of solid state welding process would be desirable aiming to find an alternative to generate welded joints for this kind of components. In this work, an investigation concerning the behavior of the 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy during Friction Stir Welding (FSW) was carried out. The profile of longitudinal residual stresses of plates welded by the FSW process was obtained using the ultrasonic method through critically refracted longitudinal waves (LCR). Two different frequencies were employed, 3.5 MHz and 5 MHz. The measurements were performed in the longitudinal direction of the welded joint at different distances from the center line of the weld. The magnitude and distribution of residual stresses found with this method are consistent with literature review, reaching 150MPa on the center of the weld.