Friction spot joining of an extruded Al–Mg–Si alloy

Friction spot joining was used to make lap joints on strips of an extruded Al–Mg–Si aluminium alloy. The influence of tool rotational speed, plunge rate and depth, and dwell time prior to tool retraction on the weld axial plunge force was monitored using high speed data acquisition. The effect of these parameters on bond formation and tensile shear strength of the resulting joints was determined. An optimum combination of parameters that maximises joint tensile shear strength was identified.