Advances in Manufacturing ›› 2016, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (4): 305-313.doi: 10.1007/s40436-016-0160-7

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Experimental characterization of Ti6Al4V T joints welded through linear friction welding technique: microstructure and NDE

Antonello Astarita1, Mario Coppola2, Sergio Esposito3, Mariacira Liberini1, Leandro Maio4, Ilaria Papa1, Fabio Scherillo1, Antonino Squillace1   

  1. 1 Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy;
    2 Fox Bit srl, viale Luraghi presso consorzio Il Sole, 80038 Pomigliano d'Arco, NA, Italy;
    3 Leonardo Company S. p. A. -Aircraft Division, Engineering-AT & D, Manufacturing and Assembly Research and Development, Viale dell'Aeronautica, s/n, 80038 Pomigliano d'Arco, NA, Italy;
    4 Department of Industrial Engineering-Aerospace Division, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Claudio, 21, Naples, Italy
  • Received:2016-07-20 Revised:2016-10-21 Online:2016-12-25 Published:2016-12-25

Abstract:

Linear friction welding (LFW) is an innovative solid-state welding technique that allows to manufacture joints with high mechanical properties. This technology has various applications in the aerospace field; in particular it is used to weld massive structural components made of Ti6Al4V. This paper deals with the experimental study of Ti6Al4V T-joints welded through LFW, with particular focus on the effectiveness of ultrasonic control in detecting and distinguishing welding defects within the joints. Aiming to this scope, joints with different properties were manufactured and tested:some were free from defects but with different metallurgy, and some had different types of defects. The results obtained proved that the ultrasonic control was an effective method to detect and identify defects in linear friction welded titanium joints, moreover it was possible to get information regarding the microstructure and in particular the extension of the different metallurgical zones induced by the welding process.

Key words: Ti6Al4V, Ultrasonic control, Linear friction welding(LFW), Microstructure, Defects