Electromagnetic Impact Welding of Al-to-Al–Li Sheets

Abstract

The potential for weight savings resulting from the low density and high stiffness of aluminum-lithium (Al–Li) alloys and the difficulty in fusion welding of these alloys led to this study of solid state welding of Al–Li alloys for its potential application in the aerospace and automobile industries. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of electromagnetic (EM) welding of Al-to-Al–Li sheets by using Al drivers to drive the electrically poor conductive Al–Li sheets. A study has been carried out to characterize the electromagnetic impact welding of Al-to-Al–Li sheets of 1 mm thickness. Specific heat treatment cycle need to be followed prior to EM welding of Al–Li sheets. The results of the microstructure and tensile shear strength tests are reported.

Electromagnetic impact welding of copper-to-copper sheets

“…1. The experimental conditions like bank capacitance (200 µF), coil inductance (0.39 µH) and coil size (70 mm×5 mm×12.5 mm) were kept constant as in previous reported literature [6,7,8]. The chosen values of capacitance and inductance of the experimental setup resulted in the ringing frequency value of 18.5 kHz.…”

“…A three-dimensional, 'I'-shaped, flat one turn copper coil, same as used in earlier reported work [6,7,8], was used for the electromagnetic impact welding of copper sheets. The Cu sheets used for welding were 70 mm long, 60 mm wide, and with 0.5 mm thickness.…”

“…The Cu sheets used for welding were 70 mm long, 60 mm wide, and with 0.5 mm thickness. Current and in turn the magnetic field and Lorentz force was concentrated at the localized area by using the web of 5 mm wide and 70 mm long at the center [1,6,7,8]. The properties of the Cu material used for this study are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Detailed study of effect of process parameters on strength and width of electromagnetic impact weld of Al-to-Al and Al-to-SS [7,8] has been first time reported. The logical extension of the work reported in previous papers [6,7] and [8] is establishing feasibility of electromagnetic impact welding of Cu sheets and characterization of the weld. Authors have not found any reported literature on EM welding of Cu-toCu sheets.…”

“…Concentration of magnetic field is difficult in case flat sheets and hence this field has not been widely researched. Few researchers have reported the feasibility of EM welding of flat sheets [1,2,6]. Detailed study of effect of process parameters on strength and width of electromagnetic impact weld of Al-to-Al and Al-to-SS [7,8] has been first time reported.…”