Seam Welds Modeling And Mechanical Properties Prediction In The Extrusion Of AA6082 Alloy

This work summarizes the outcome of recent research by the authors on modeling the formation of seam welds in aluminum extrusion and on evaluating the related mechanical properties on the final products. A profile with a seam weld in the middle section was produced with different die designs in order to investigate the relation between die design and local welding parameters, such as contact pressure, temperature, time of contact, strain and strain rate paths. The local welding conditions were evaluated by complete thermo-mechanical 3D FEM simulation of the processes. Specimens were extracted from the profiles and tensile tested, the resulting mechanical properties being discussed with respect to the local welding conditions. The possibility to adopt criteria for assessing the welding quality is discussed, together with the effect of high speed damage cracking.