Abstract :
Plunge depth is the depth of welding materials where the shoulder tool
places emphasis on the surface of the material aided by pin that acts to fusing
both materials and penetrating the workpiece. The influence of the feeding depth
or plunge depth has not been much done, while the plunge depth will affect the
level of penetration and heat produced.
Friction stir welding has several parameters including tool rotation speed,
plunge depth tool welding speed. This research will examine the effect of plunge
depth on the mechanical properties of FSW joints. The plunge depth used in this
research was 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm. The parameters those are keep constant are
the rotation of the pin 1200 rpm, the welding speed of 20 mm/minute.
Furthermore, the joints of aluminum material from the friction stir welding
process was tested using tensile testing and macro photograph testing.
The test results on the 4 mm plunge depth variation when examining
macro photographs there were defects in the TMAZ (thermomechanically affected
zone) and had the greatest ultimate tensile strength values compared to the
variations in plunge depth of 2 mm and 3 mm. In the 4 mm plunge depth has the
ultimate tensile strength value of 183,286 N/mm2
, because when the pin is deeper
to penetrates the material, so the weld nugget of material is stronger correlate.