Residual Stresses Characterization in Friction Stir Welding of 2017 A-T451 Alloy Using Eddy Current Control

This work involves identifying residual stresses in friction stir welding (FSW) soldered aeronautical structures using nondestructive testing. The used alloy is 2017 A-T451, which is used for welding aircraft structures that are difficult to weld using conventional fusion techniques. The solid-state nature of the sintering process allows for the elimination of defects associated with solidification and the absence of any material addition, but the process also involves phenomena as diverse as the microstructural modification of smelted materials, heat transfer, and the emergence of residual stresses. These residual stresses are capable of altering the material’s initial structure and mechanical properties. And to reduce the probability of failure, preventive maintenance is required to determine the level of allowable stress for the operational structure. Eddy current’s method of control was utilized in this work to determine these stresses.