Fatigue Strength Improvement of Welded Aluminium Alloys by Different Post Weld Treatment Methods

Author:  Nitschke-Pagel, Wohlfahrt
Source:  Conf Proc: ICSP-8 Sept. 16-20, 2002 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Doc ID:  2002046
Year of Publication:  2002
Abstract:  
Authors Thomas Nitschke-Pagel, Helmut Wohlfahrt, Institut fur SchweiBtechnik, Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany Introduction Special fields where the application of aluminium alloys offer many advantages can be found in the whole field of transportation. Due to strongly increased energy costs the weight factor of transport vehicles like cars, trains and aircrafts has become one of the most important factors because the costs for each vehicle depend directly on its weight. The possibility of substitution of steels by aluminium alloys in fatigue loaded constructions requires the east applicability of manufacturing techniques where joining processes are a very important part. From steels it is well known that the fatigue strength of a welded construction usually will be very low in comparison with that of the base material. A further problem is, that the notches which are an effect accompanying the welding process will be the more effective the higher the ultimate strength of the base material is. This is the reason because the use of modern high strength steels is not helpful with regard on a weight reduction because the higher potential fatigue strength cannot be found in the welded constructions, if the fabrication procedures are the same.