Development and validation of statistical models for friction stir spot welding of thermoplastics

• Grant number: 11/20418-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Elias Hage Junior
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Freiria de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Sergio de Traglia Amancio Filho
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Helmholtz Association, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/14562-2 - Analysis and mechanical evaluation of poly-methyl-methacrylate Friction Stir Spot Welding joints, BP.MS

Abstract

This project intends to develop and validate of statistical models describing the properties of thermoplastic joints welded by Friction Stir Spot. These models have been proposed based on preliminary investigation of the correlation between the Friction Stir Spot Welding process parameters (tool rotational speed, tool plunge rate and dwell time) and joint properties (lap shear strength and microstructure) on polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA). The samples will be welded using a full factorial design of experiments, in which all welding parameters will be evaluated. The joints will be produced at Helmholtz Zentrum Geestach (HZG), Germany, where the preliminary work has been performed during a previous research stay. Welding conditions will be selected to validate the models. The joint properties (model responses) investigated will be: weld microstructure, process temperature, thermo-mechanical degradation, lap-shear strength and fracture mechanisms. The results will be analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), to evaluate the process- properties-structure relationships of FSSW PMMA joints. (AU)