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This paper presents a machine learning and image segmentation based advanced quality assessment technique for thin Refill Friction Stir Spot Welded (RFSSW) joints. In particular, the research focuses on developing a predictive support vector machines (SVM) model. The purpose of this model is to facilitate the selection of RFSSW process parameters in order to increase the shear load capacity of joints. In addition, an improved weld quality assessment algorithm based on optical analysis was developed. The research methodology includes specimen preparation stages, mechanical tests, and algorithmic analysis, culminating in a machine learning model trained on experimental data. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in selecting welding process parameters and assessing weld quality, offering significant improvements compared to standard techniques. This research not only proposes a novel approach to optimizing welding parameters but also facilitates automatic quality assessment, potentially revolutionizing and spreading the application of the RFSSW technique in various industries.

This article presents the results of a comparative study on the modification of the surface layer of carbon composites. Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are heterogeneous and anisotropic materials, characterised by high strength, low density, corrosion resistance along with ease of processing and moulding, and are increasingly replacing metal alloys. They are widely used in aviation, automotive and transport applications. One example of a modern composite is carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This study presents the influence of selected modifications of the surface layer of a CFRP composite on the values of free surface energy (SFE) and surface topography. The resulting SFE values were analysed together with the contribution of the polar SFE and dispersive SFE components. The article also presents the test results related to selected 3D surface roughness parameters and includes photographs of the test specimens after surface layer modification. The results were statistically processed in compliance with good research practice.

This study presents a comparative analysis of friction stir welding (FSW) and underwater friction stir welding (UFSW) of AZ31 magnesium alloy in T-configuration, emphasizing the effects on heat distribution, material properties, and mechanical performance. Simulation results revealed a more uniform heat distribution in both welding techniques, with the hottest area on the advancing side. The maximum temperatures recorded at the shoulder-workpiece contact were 404 °C for FSW and 349 °C for UFSW, a 13.6 % reduction in UFSW. Material velocity at the trailing edge was 63 mm/s for FSW and 42 mm/s for UFSW, showing a 34 % decrease due to lower heat generation in UFSW. Strain rates were 450 s⁻¹ for FSW and 420 s⁻¹ for UFSW. Grain size in the stir zone was 26 micrometers for FSW and 21 micrometers for UFSW, a 19 % reduction. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased by 6 % in the skin direction and 12.8 % in the flange direction for UFSW compared to FSW. SEM analysis indicated enhanced ductility in UFSW fractures. These results demonstrate UFSW's superiority in improving thermal management, microstructural properties, and mechanical performance of welded joints.

This paper presents the experimental results of a study investigating the effect of holes and notches made on the overlap ends on the strength of adhesive joints. Single-lap joints made of S235JR steel sheets bonded with Araldite 2024-2 epoxy adhesive were tested. For comparative reasons, static shear strength tests and high-cycle fatigue strength tests were performed. Adhesive-filled joints having three holes, each with a diameter of 3 mm, and notches, each 3 mm wide and 4 mm long, were tested and compared with reference joints, i.e. without modification. The assumption was to determine whether the structural modifications would reduce the peak peel and shear stresses that are typical of this type of joints. Results of the static strength tests showed no significant effect of the applied modifications on the strength of the joints. However, in terms of fatigue strength, the results demonstrated a significant improvement in fatigue life, the value of which increased in the low-cycle fatigue region by 328.6% for the joint with notches and by 640.8% for the joint with holes. A smaller yet still positive effect of the applied modifications was shown for high-cycle fatigue. For a variable load with the maximum value of 9 MPa, the fatigue life increased by 215.9% for the variant with notches and by 183.3% for the variant with holes. Surface topography of fatigue fractures was examined by determining roughness parameters on the overlap ends in the samples. Significant differences were shown, with the selected roughness parameters being significantly lower for the reference variant than for the variants with notches and holes. It was shown that the applied structural modifications led to increasing the fatigue strength to 8.5 MPa for the limit number of cycles equal to 2×106, when compared to the reference variant for which the fatigue strength was 8 MPa.

This study investigates the tribological properties of an AA 5754 aluminum alloy composite reinforced with the nanopowder of Al2O3, fabricated using the friction stir processing (FSP) technique with blind holes. The aim is to analyze the effects of varying the tool rotational speed (rpm) and blind hole diameter on the wear and friction behavior of the produced composite. A pin-on disk test is conducted under dry conditions and room temperature to assess the tribological properties against steel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is employed to examine the worn and wear surfaces of the produced composites post test. The results indicate that increasing the applied load results in a decrease in the coefficient of friction (COF), with values ranging from 0.775 to 0.852 for 10 N and 0.607 to 0.652 for 20 N. Moreover, the wear rate diminishes with higher Al2O3 content and optimal FSP tool rotation (1280 rpm). Hardness analysis reveals variations between 33–42 HV and 35–39 HV, influenced by nanoparticle distribution. The composite demonstrates superior wear resistance compared to raw AA5754 aluminum due to its reinforced nature. However, high FSP tool rotation rates lead to abrasive wear and surface cracks. These findings offer insights into optimizing FSP parameters to enhance the tribological performance of nano-reinforced aluminum alloys.

This article presents the influence of the brushing process on residual stress and surface roughness of EN AW-2024-T3 aluminum alloy joints welded using the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) method. Butt joints with thicknesses of 2 mm were brushing with using ceramic brush. The aim of the study was to find optimal parameters of the brushing process, which would significantly improve the functional properties of welded joints. The experiments were carried out in two steps. In the first stage of the research, the feed rate was changed in the range f = 40 ÷ 120 mm / min with a constant brushing depth d = 0.5 mm. The roughness decreased from Sa = 5.285 µm for the specimen after welding to Sa = 2.460 µm for the f = 120 mm/min and d = 0.5 mm. The change in the parameters of the brushing process did not have a significant impact on the state of residual stresses. Hence, in the second step, the brushing depth was increased in steps of 0.1 mm. The best properties were obtained for f = 120 mm / min and d = 0.6 mm (variant 6A), where roughness was Sa = 0.443 µm and compressive stresses σ = -118 MPa.

The aluminum strength-to-weight ratio has become a highly significant factor in industrial applications. Placing stiffening ribs along the surface can significantly improve the panel’s resistance to bending and compression in aluminum alloys. This study used single-point incremental forming (SPIF) to fabricate stiffening ribs for 1 mm and 3 mm thick aluminum alloy EN AW-2024-T3 sheets. A universal compression machine was used to investigate sheet deformation. The resulting deformation was examined using non-contact digital image correlation (DIC) based on several high-resolution cameras. The results showed that deformation progressively escalated from the edges toward the center, and the highest buckling values were confined within the non-strengthened area. Specimens with a larger thickness (3 mm) showed better effectiveness against buckling and bending for each applied load: 8 kN or 10 kN. Additionally, the displacement from the sheet surface decreased by 60% for sheets 3 mm thick and by half for sheets 1 mm thick, which indicated that thicker sheets could resist deformation better.

The prerequisite of the weld bead finishing is intricately linked to the quality of the welded joint. It constitutes the final, yet pivotal, stage in its formation, significantly influencing the reliability of structural components and machines. This article delineates an innovative post-weld surface finishing method, distinguished by the movement of a specialized cutting tool along a butt weld. This method stands out due to its singular approach to machining allowance, wherein the weld bead height is considered and eradicated in a single pass of the cutting tool. Test samples were made of AISI 304L, AISI 316L stainless steels and EN AW-5058 H321, EN AW-7075 T651 aluminum alloys butt-welded with TIG methods. Following the welding process, the weld bead was finished in accordance with the innovative method to flush the bead and the base metal’s surface. For the quality control of welded joints before and after the weld finishing, two non-destructive testing methods were chosen: Penetrant Testing (PT) and Radiographic Testing (RT). This article provides results from the examination of 2D profile parameters and 3D stereometric characteristics of surface roughness using the optical method. Additionally, metallographic results are presented to assess changes in the microstructure, the microhardness, and the degree of hardening within the surface layer induced by the application of the innovative post-weld finishing method.

The utilization of Al2O3 nanopowder to reinforce AA5754 aluminum alloy through blind holes employing the friction stir processing (FSP) technique to produce an aluminum matrix nanocomposite is explored in this paper. Motivated by the necessity to enhance the strength and ductility of welded joints, the impacts of varying the tool rotational speed (rpm) and blind hole diameter on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints are investigated. Experimental characterization techniques including SEM, optical microscopy, microhardness, and tensile tests were employed to analyze the welded joints produced under different processing parameters (tool rotational speeds of 910, 1280, and 1700 rpm, and blind hole diameters of 0, 1, 1.5, and 2 mm). Comparative analyses were conducted against base metal properties and joints without reinforcement powder. It was found that the addition of nanopowder resulted in a decrease in the maximum generated heat during FSP, while also reducing the stir zone size compared to samples without nanopowder. Moreover, enhancements in both the strength and ductility of the joints were observed with the incorporation of Al2O3 nanoparticles. The optimal combination of welding conditions, observed at 1280 rpm rotational speed and 1.5 mm hole diameter, yielded a remarkable ultimate tensile strength of 567 MPa, accompanied by a hardness of 45 HV. These results underscore the potential of nano-Al2O3 reinforcement in significantly improving the mechanical properties of the produced nanocomposite, with implications for advancing the performance of welded structures in various engineering applications.

This study optimized friction stir welding (FSW) parameters for 1.6 mm thick 2024T3 aluminum alloy sheets. A 3 × 3 factorial design was employed to explore tool rotation speeds (1100 to 1300 rpm) and welding speeds (140 to 180 mm/min). Static tensile tests revealed the joints’ maximum strength at 87% relative to the base material. Hyperparameter optimization was conducted for machine learning (ML) models, including random forest and XGBoost, and multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) models, using grid search. Welding parameter optimization and extrapolation were then carried out, with final strength predictions analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). The ML models achieved over 98% accuracy in parameter regression, demonstrating significant effectiveness in FSW process enhancement. Experimentally validated, optimized parameters resulted in an FSW joint efficiency of 93% relative to the base material. This outcome highlights the critical role of advanced analytical techniques in improving welding quality and efficiency.

To ensure the high reliability of aircraft structures, the Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) process must be characterized by a high load capacity of the welds and a small standard deviation of the load capacity spread. This allows us to obtain uniform functional properties in the connections, ensuring the high quality of the process. This work aims to select the most favorable technological parameters for the welding process of EN AW-7075-T6 Alclad aluminum alloy sheets, which are used for the production of aircraft structures. The best networks were calculated using the Statistica 13.3 program. The obtained results were compared with the results of previous investigations. It has been shown that a model using neural networks allows for the determination of connection parameters with much greater accuracy than the classical model. The maximum error in estimating the load capacity of the connection for the mathematical model was 6.13%, and the standard deviation was 14.51%. In the case of neural networks, the maximum error value did not exceed 1.55%, and the standard deviation was 3.74%. It was shown that, based on the neural model, it is possible to determine the process parameters that ensure the required quality capacity of the process, ensuring a probability of obtaining the required load capacity of the connections amounting to P = 0.999935 with a defect rate of 0.0065%. This possibility is not provided by the classical model due to its large error in estimating the process spread and the high sensitivity of the process input parameters to the output parameters.

This article presents the results of research aimed at determining the influence of selected nanofillers of vinyl ester resin on the mechanical properties of the cured resin. The influence of the resin with nanofillers as a matrix on the properties of the unidirectional CFRP composite was also investigated. Graphite, silicon oxide and titanium dioxide nanopowders were used as resin nanofillers. Each of the fillers was considered in two different contents, i.e. 1 wt.% and 2 wt.%. The variants with such nanofillers content were compared with the unfilled reference variant. The uniaxial tensile strength tests of the resin samples were carried out, showing the possibility of increasing the strength by 19.35% for the variant 1 wt.% of silica nanopowder content. For CFRP composites, the possibility of increasing the strength in the three-point bending test by 25.57% due to the use of a matrix reinforced with graphite nanopowder with a content of 1 wt.% was demonstrated. Based on the analysis of fracture surfaces performed using SEM microscopy, it was shown that the fillers used lead to a significant improvement in the adhesion of the matrix to the composite fibers.

Rational designs for cooling systems (CS) of internal combustion engines are formulated in the form of a series of circulation circuits. The engine is integrated into a circuit with the highest and unregulated flow of internal circuit coolant (ICC). All heat exchangers are placed in circulation circuits with relatively reduced and adjustable ICC flow rates. While the circuits are usually interconnected, they can also be designed to operate independently. This CS scheme enables the achievement of the minimum possible value of the sum of masses of exchanger cores, denoted as MΣ. The reduction in MΣ is achieved through the regulation of ICC flow in a closed circulation loop involving two heat exchangers. The variations in MΣ based on the circuit parameters have been thoroughly investigated. The reduction in MΣ can also be applicable to more intricate systems. A decrease in MΣ, under identical initial CS parameters, may occur in different magnitudes, depending on the specific features of the CS scheme and the operating conditions of the heat exchangers within it. Cooling systems, constructed with the same initial parameters and comprising multiple circulation circuits that meet all criteria for rational design, may exhibit diverse configurations. Examples of such systems are explored, and the minimum values of MΣ are calculated for each. It has been determined that the disparity in the minimum values of MΣ for such systems, while maintaining equal efficiency, can exceed 30%. The selection of the optimal CS scheme is contingent not only on achieving the minimum possible value of MΣ but also on various other factors.

This study investigated the effects of friction stir welding thread on the quality of dissimilar joints between AA6068 aluminum alloy and copper. The developed computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method was employed to simulate the tool's heat generation and thermo-mechanical action. The materials flow, microstructure, mechanical properties, and hardness of joints were assessed. The results indicated that the threaded pin increased heat generation during welding. The maximum temperature recorded on the aluminum side was 780 K for the cylindrical joint and 820 K for the threaded pin joint. The size of the stir zone in the threaded pin joint was bigger than the cylindrical pin. On the other hand, mechanical interlocking between AA6068 aluminum alloy and copper increased in the threaded pin joint. The material's velocity and strain rate increased by the higher stirring action of the threaded tool. Higher strain rate and materials velocity decreased microstructure size in the stir zone. The experimental result shows that the ultimate tensile strength of the cylindrical pin joint was 272 MPa, and the threaded pin joint was 345 MPa. The average microhardness of the cylindrical pin joint was near 104 H V, and for the threaded pin was 109 H V. The results show that the ultimate tensile strength and hardness of threaded pin joint increases by 25% and 5% in comparing cylindrical pin joint.

The paper presents the results of research aimed at comparing two stringer joining technologies of stiffened panels. Experimental tests were carried out on the basis of uniaxial compression of thin-walled panels stiffened with two parallel stringers. The panels consist of a skin plate and stringers joined with two techniques: riveting and refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW). The aim of the investigations was to determine the amount of the critical load, the character of the structure's work in the range of post-buckling behaviour and the mode of panel destruction. For deformation measurements, an optical scanner Aramis based on the digital image correlation (DIC) technique was used. The research conducted enabled the assessment of the effectiveness of the RFSSW technology of joining the semi-monocoque structures, taking into account the range of post-critical deformations caused both to the local and global loss of stability. The compression tests have shown that the plate with welded stringers with a spacing of 29.5 mm exhibits the ultimate load similar to the variant of the riveted panel. It was also observed that the nature and number of buckling half-waves depend on the applied load and spacing between connectors.

The pursuit of COx reduction has progressed the construction of transport systems produced using various types of materials to ensure weight reduction while maintaining sufficient functional and quality features [...]

The aim of the research described in this paper is analysis of the deformation of the aircraft tyre subjected to static load. Based on the results of experimental tests with a different value of inflation pressure, favorable pressure conditions for use in the tyre of an ultralight aircraft were determined. The deflection characteristics of the tyre depending on the nominal pressure was determined using the digital image correlation technique. In the range of loads not leading to excessive tyre deflection, quite linear relation between vertical deflection and vertical force is observed. The safe minimum pressure in tyre loaded with a force of 12 kN is 2.5 bar. The experimental results will be used to select a shock absorber for a 600 kg ultralight, light sport aircraft commercialised by the company Ekolot (Krosno, Poland).

Studying roughness parameters and the topography of stiffening ribs in composite sandwich structures is important for understanding these materials’ surface quality and mechanical properties. The roughness parameters describe the micro-geometry of the surface, including the average height deviation, roughness depth, and waviness. The topography of the surface refers to the spatial arrangement and distribution of features such as bumps, ridges, and valleys. The study investigated the roughness parameters under three scenarios based on two SPIF process parameters: tool rotational speed(N) and feed rate (f). The vertical step was held constant at 0.4 mm across all scenarios. In scenario A, the process parameters were set at f = 300 mm/min and n = 300 rpm; in scenario B, f = 1500 mm/min and n = 3000 rpm; and in scenario C, f = 1500 mm/min and n = 300 rpm. The experimental research topography analyses revealed that the surface roughness of the stiffened ribs was highly dependent on the SPIF process parameters. The highest feed rate and tool rotational speed produced the smoothest surface texture with the lowest maximum height (Sz) value. In contrast, the lowest feed rate and tool rotational speed resulted in a rougher surface texture with a higher maximum height (Sz) value. Furthermore, the contour plots generated from the topography analyses provided a good visual representation of the surface texture and roughness, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of the SPIF process parameters. This study emphasizes optimizing the SPIF process parameters to achieve the desired surface quality and texture of stiffened ribs formed in Litecor® panel sheets.

The final accuracy of the parts formed using single point incremental forming greatly depends on the mechanical properties of the material to be formed and residual stress formation. In this paper, an X-ray diffraction technique is used to study the distribution of the residual stress along the generating line of the conical drawpiece. As a test material DC04steel sheet with a thickness of 0.8 mm was used. The basic mechanical properties of the DC04 sheet metal were determined in the uniaxial tensile test according to the EN ISO 6892-1:2016. It was found that the maximum amount of the residual stress existed in a point located in the midway between a base and a truncation of the drawpiece. In the outer surface of the drawpiece the orange peel defect associated with a rough surface appearance after SPIF a drawpiece is observed. In contrast, the inner surface of component is characterized by linear grooves associated with the interaction of tool tip with the sheet surface. This defect is mainly influenced by vertical step size.

The paper presents the results of an analysis of the influence of technological parameters of pneumatic shot peening technology on the selected properties of a surface layer of butt joints made with Friction stir welding (FSW) method. Butt joints made of two 2024 – T3 aluminum alloy sheets with the thickness of 1 mm were shot peened with glass beads. The experiments were carried out according to the statistical 3-level completed plan PS/DC 32. Technological parameters were changed in the range: pressure p = 0.4 – 0.6 MPa and peening time t = 1-3 min. As a result of the conducted research, adequate equations describing the effect of the analyzed parameters on the surface roughness were obtained. Shot peening with glass beads reduced significantly the surface roughness from Ra = 5.2 µm to Ra = 1.42 µm. This treatment provides high compressive residual stresses and the increase of the surface layer hardness. The results show that shot peening is a highly efficient and cost-effective mechanical treatment used for improving mechanical properties of butt joints made with FSW method.

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state joining process used to join metals and their alloys. The main goal of this paper is to select the optimal welding parameters such as: rotational speed and the feed rate of the tool. The article presents the results of the tests on welding 1mm thick 2024 aluminum sheet according to the statistical 3-level completed plan PS/DK32. The rotational speed of the tool varied within the range of 1100 ÷ 1300 rpm and the feed rate within the range of 40 ÷ 60 mm/min. For these parameters the analyses of the experiment repeatability, impact significance and adequacy of equations were made.

This article presents the influence of the Shot Peening (SP) process on residual stress and surface roughness of AMS 5504 joints welded using the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) method. Thin-walled steel structures are widely used in the aviation and automotive industries, among others. Unfortunately, the fatigue properties become worse during the welding process. Samples of 1 mm-thick AMS 5504 steel plates were first prepared using TIG welding and then strengthened by the Shot Peening (SP) process. The technological parameters of the SP process were changed in the range of time t from 2 min to 4 min and of pressure p from 0.4 MPa to 0.6 Mpa. The residual stresses were measured by X-ray diffraction in three zones: fusion zone (FZ), heat-affected zone (HAZ) and base metal (BM). The results showed that SP introduced compressive residual stresses in all of the zones measured, especially in the FZ. The greatest value of compressive residual stresses σ = −609 MPa in the FZ was observed for the maximum parameters of SP (p = 0.6 MPa, t = 4 min). The increase in value of residual stress is about 580% when compared to welding specimens without treatment. As a result of shot peening in the FZ, the mean roughness value Ra decreased in range 63.07% to 77.67% in the FZ, while in the BM increased in range 236.87% to 352.78% in comparison to specimen without treatment. Selected surface roughness parameters in FZ and BM were analyzed using neural networks. In FZ, it was demonstrated that the most correlated parameters with residual stresses are Rt and Rsk. On the other hand, in the BM zone, the most correlated parameters were Rv, Rt and Rq. This enables the estimation of stresses in the welded joint after SP on the basis of selected roughness parameters.

Low weight and high strength are significant factors in the current decade’s spread of composite sandwich materials. Previous studies have proven that forming stiffening ribs in these materials through the Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) process is possible and gives encouraging results. On the other hand, knowledge of residual stress (RS) values that form during the manufacturing process is essential, as they may affect the structural integrity of manufactured elements, whether in compression or tension. The investigation of the RS in the composite materials formed by the SPIF process using the XRD method was very limited in the previous studies, so this research aims to apply the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method to determine RS on the part of the LITECOR® sandwich material formed using SPIF. LITECOR® consists of a plastic core between two layers of steel. In this study, three types of LITECOR® were used with differing plastic core thicknesses of 0.8, 1.25, and 1.6 mm, while the steel layers’ thickness remained the same at 0.3 mm. The axial and traverse RSs were measured in five positions on both sides of the formed part. It was found that the achieved RSs varied from tensile to compressive along the formed regions. It was found that the residual stress values in both directions were inversely proportional to the thickness of the plastic core. It was noted that the highest RS values were in the unformed base metal, after which the RS was reduced on both sides of the SPIF-formed region, followed by a rise in the RS at the concave of the SPIF-formed region. The maximum measured RS for X-axes was 1041 MPa, whereas, for Y-axes, it was 1260 MPa, both of which were recorded on the back side at a thickness of t = 0.8 mm.

The aim of this research was the selection of friction stir welding (FSW) parameters for joining stiffening elements (Z-stringers) to a thin-walled structure (skin) made of 1 mm-thick EN AW-2024 T3 aluminium alloy sheets. Overlapping sheets were friction stir welded with variable values of welding speed, pin length (plunge depth), and tool rotational speed. The experimental research was carried out based on a three-factor three-level full factorial Design of Experiments plan (DoE). The load capacity of the welded joints was determined in uniaxial tensile/pure shear tests. Based on the results of the load capacity of the joint and the dispersion of this parameter, multi-criteria optimisation was carried out to indicate the appropriate parameters of the linear FSW process. The optimal parameters of the FSW process were determined based on a regression equation assessed by the Fisher–Senecor test. The vast majority of articles reviewed concern the optimisation of welding parameters for only one selected output parameter (most often joint strength). The aim of multi-criteria optimisation was to determine the most favourable combination of parameters in terms of both the smallest dispersion and highest load capacity of the joints. It was found that an increase in welding speed at a given value of pin length caused a decrease in the load capacity of the joint, as well as a significant increase in the dispersion of the results. The use of the parameters obtained as a result of multi-criteria optimisation will allow a minimum load capacity of the joints of 5.38 kN to be obtained with much greater stability of the results.

In this study, hardfacing deposits using materials of different surface hardness are investigated using an innovative strategy for tribological testing. The abrasive wear behaviour of AISI 316L stainless steel is compared to the Cr–Ni–Mn alloy (OK Autrod 16.95) and the Cr-Mo alloy (Fluxofil 58), deposited on a substrate of S355JR steel. A modified three-body abrasion test and a modified scratch test were used to evaluate the tribological behaviour and wear mechanisms of these materials. The modified double-pass scratch test on the abraded surfaces is analysed using the geometrical parameters of grooves to aid in predicting the lifetime of machinery parts in abrasive working conditions. This leads to a shortening of the resistance to abrasion wear time of the evaluation of the abrasion wear resistance of materials. The validation of the results obtained in the double-pass scratch tests was carried out using three-body abrasion tests, according to the ASTM G65 standard. Wear mechanism investigations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional surface topography and was analysed using an optical microscope. The results obtained from experimental research show that double-pass scratch tests demonstrated that it is possible to shorten the time needed to predict the abrasive behaviour of materials using this method.

The paper presents the results of experimental investigations, the aim of which was to determine the degree of weakening of skin sheet of the thin-walled structure through a single-row welded joints made by Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) technology. At the beginning, a short metallographic analysis of the weld was carried out, defining the characteristic areas of the microstructure. Then, comparative tests were carried out on the thin-walled structure sample in the form of a single-row skin-stringer joint. The structures made with the discussed technology of welding were compared with the traditionally joined structure by riveting. It has been shown that in the case of the welded structure, the skin sheet is weakened by more than 6% to a lesser extent than in the case of riveted. However, it was shown that the cracking path in the tensiled welded sheet runs along an unpredictable path, deviating from the line marked by the welds' row. While in the case of riveted joint the cracking propagation along the row of rivets was revealed. The analyzes of fracture surfaces for both cases using scanning electron microscopy were also undertaken, thus undertaking preliminary considerations on the mechanism of fracture.

In this paper, shields made of 1.3964 stainless steel bonded to a fiber laminate were subjected to ballistic impact response of 7.62 × 51 mm ŁPS (light projectile with a lead core) projectiles. Additionally, between the steel sheet metal and the laminate, a liquid-filled bag was placed, which was a mixture of ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) with 5 wt.% SiO2 nanopowder. Numerical modeling of the projectile penetrating the samples was carried out using the finite element method in the Abaqus program. The elasto-plastic behavior of the projectile material and the component layers of the shields was taken into account. Projectile penetration through glycol-filled bag has been performed using the smooth particle hydrodynamics technique. The morphology of the penetration channel was also analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. For the shield variant with a glycol-filled bag between the steel and laminate plates, the inlet speed of projectile was 834 m/s on average, and 366 m/s behind the sample. For the variant where there was no glycol-filled bag between the steel and laminate plates, the inlet and outlet average velocities were 836 m/s, after 481 m/s, respectively. Referring to the steel-glycol-laminate and steel-laminate variants, it can be concluded that the laminate-glycol-laminate is more effective.

The article presents the results of tribological investigations into the steel/polymer/steel sandwich material LITECOR® developed by ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe for applications in the automotive industry. Friction tests were carried out by means of a strip drawing test with the use of a special tribotester mounted on a uniaxial tensile test machine. The influence of sheet deformation on the value of the coefficient of friction (COF) was considered. For this purpose, the samples were subjected to a pre-deformation of 4%, 8% and 12%. Friction tests were carried out with different force values and under different friction conditions, i.e., in dry friction conditions and lubrication of the sheet surface with L-AN 46 machine oil. The highest values of COF were observed for as-received sheets. In contrast, apart from the friction process under the conditions of the lowest force analysed, the lowest value of the COF was observed for pre-strained sheets with a deformation of 12%. The lubrication efficiency of the pre-strained strip specimens with ε = 4% was between 10.5% and 16.3%, with a trend of increasing lubrication efficiency with increasing force. For pre-strained sheets with deformation ε = 12%, there was a trend of decreasing effectiveness from 14.9% to 9.03% with an increase in force.

This article aims to study water-cooling effects on residual stress friction stir welding (FSW) of AA6068-T6 aluminum alloy. For this reason, the FSW and submerged FSW processes are simulated by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method to study heat generation. The increment hole drilling technique was used to measure the residual stress of welded samples. The simulation results show that materials softening during the FSW process are more than submerged. This phenomenon caused the residual stress of the joint line in the submerged case to be lower than in the regular FSW joint. On the other hand, the results revealed that the maximum residual stresses in both cases are below the yielding strength of the AA6068-T6 aluminum alloy. The results indicated that the residual stress along the longitudinal direction of the joint line is much larger than the transverse direction in both samples.

The aim of this study is to determine the influence of the amount of magnesium in Al-Mg alloys and strain rate on the grain refinement and mechanical properties of the material as determined in a dynamic tensile test. Hydrostatic extrusion was used to process the material. This method is not commonly used to impose severe plastic deformation of Al-Mg alloys. The article presents the results of static and dynamic strength tests on aluminium alloys subjected to plastic deformation in the hydrostatic extrusion process. Technically pure aluminium Al99.5 and three aluminium alloys with different magnesium content, Al-1Mg, Al-3Mg and Al-7.5Mg, were used in the tests. The samples were subjected to static tests using the uniaxial tensile test machine and dynamic tests using a rotary hammer. Compared to pure aluminium, increasing the magnesium content in Al-based alloys strengthened them in hydrostatic extrusion (logarithmic strain ε = 0.86) and caused an increase in the static ultimate tensile stress Rm, relative strain εr and the value of the yield stress. For strengthened aluminium alloys, an increase in the strain rate from 750 to 1750 s−1 caused an increase in the dynamic ultimate tensile stress from 1.2 to 1.9 times in relation to the static ultimate tensile stress. The increase in magnesium content results in the formation of a larger strengthening phase, influences a different state of stress during dynamic loading and leads to a change in the orientation of the fracture surface. It was also found that an increase in magnesium content is associated with an increased number of voids, which is also directly proportional to the strain rate in the dynamic rotary hammer test.

Friction Stir Spot Welding is one of the most contemporary methods of joining metals and alloys in their solid state. The ability to join elements made of aluminum alloys allows for utilizing this method in the manufacturing of aircraft structures while lowering the work load, costs, and weight, without sacrificing or even having better strength parameters than classic methods of joining elements. It ensures constant joint parameters, however it requires the use of optimal welding parameters such as: the rotational speed of the tool, tool delve depth, and welding time. The work presents the results of experiments conducted on 7074 aluminum sheet metal that was 1.8 and 0.8 mm thick, which conducted in accordance with the PS/DK32 research plan. The welding tests were done on a dedicated spot welding machine, while the strength tests consisted of static tensile strength tests. In the final part of the article contains an analysis and interpretation of the results

The Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) method consists of three variable process parameters: rotational speed, tool plunge time and depth. The article presents an analysis of the effects tool plunge depth on shear strength. For this purpose, samples had a shearing load applied in a device prepare for this purpose. The shear strength was determined. An analysis of the results showed that tool plunge has a large effect on the strength of the joint and the structure of the joint. Depending on the tool plunge value, three types of joint failure were observed during the static shear strength test.

The aim of the research presented in this article is analysis of the effect of the surface treatment method on the static and fatigue strength of flash butt welded bandsaw blades. A 1-mm-thick 75Cr1 cold-work tool steel sheet used for bandsaw blades was used as the test material. Fractographic studies of the fatigue fractures and fractures formed in static tests were also carried out. The static strength tests showed sandblasting the weld surface had no significant effect on the load capacity of the joint. However, the sandblasted specimens showed a higher repeatability of the load capacity (lower standard deviation). In the case of both analyzed sample variants of specimens, sandblasted and non-sandblasted, the number of cycles at which the sample was damaged decreases with the percentage increase of the stress amplitude. When loading the samples with a stress amplitude value in the range between 400 and 690 MPa, sandblasting of the weld surface increased the average value of destructive cycles by about 10–86% (depending on the stress amplitude) compared to non-sandblasted joints. The sandblasting process introduces compressive stresses in the surface layer of the welds, therefore the variable tensile load acting on the sample requires a greater number of cycles before the fatigue cracks initiate and propagate. In the case of all specimens, a ductile fracture was observed. It was also found that, regardless of the variable stress amplitude, sandblasting has a positive effect on reducing the standard deviation of fatigue test results.

The article presents the results of friction tests of a 0.8 mm-thick DC04 deep-drawing quality steel sheet. A special friction simulator was used in the tests, reflecting friction conditions occurring while pulling a sheet strip through a drawbead in sheet metal forming. The variable parameters in the experimental tests were as follows: surface roughness of countersamples, lubrication conditions, sample orientation in relation to the sheet rolling direction as well as the sample width and height of the drawbead. Due to many factors that affect the value of the coefficient of friction coefficient, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to build and analyse the friction model. Four training algorithms were used to train the ANNs: back propagation, conjugate gradients, quasi-Newton and Levenberg–Marquardt. It was found that for all analysed friction conditions and sheet strip widths, increasing the drawbead height increases the COF value. The chlorine-based Heavy Draw 1150 compound provides a more effective friction reduction compared to a LAN-46 machine oil.

The aim of the investigations was to determine the effect of parameters of refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) on the fracture load and failure mechanisms of the resulting joint. RFSSW joints were made in 7075-T6 Alclad aluminium alloy sheets using different welding parameters. The load capacity of joints was determined under tensile/shear loadings. Finite element-based numerical simulations of the joint-loading process were carried out, taking into account the variability of elasto-plastic properties of weld material through the joint cross-section. The influence of welding parameters on selected phenomena occurring during the destruction of the joint is presented. The considerations were supported by a fractographic analysis based on SEM images of fractures. It was found that there is a certain optimal amount of heat generated, which is necessary to produce the correct joint in terms of its load capacity. This value should not be exceeded, because it leads to weakening of the base material and thus to a reduction in the strength of the joint. Samples subjected to uniaxial tensile shear load showed three types of failure mode (tensile fracture, shear fracture, plug type fracture) depending on the tool rotational speed and duration of welding. Prediction of the fracture mode using FE-based numerical modelling was consistent with the experimental results. The samples that were damaged due to the tensile fracture of the lower sheet revealed a load capacity (LC) of 5.76 KN. The average value of LC for the shear fracture failure mechanism was 5.24 kN. The average value of the LC for plug-type fracture mode was 5.02 kN. It was found that there is an optimal amount of heat generated, which is necessary to produce the correct joint in terms of its LC. Excessive overheating of the joint leads to a weakening of the base metal and thus a reduction in the strength of the joint. Measurements of residual stresses along the axis specimens showed the presence of stresses with a certain constant value for the welded area on the side of the 1.6 mm thick plate.

The article presents an analysis of the macrostructure and mechanical properties of spot welds of joints made by Refill Friction Spot Stir Welding (RFSSW) method. RFSSW is a relatively new technology that gaining wider use in not only the automotive and aviation industries because it is a less energy intensive method than resistance spot welding. The primary focus of the article is the effect of welding time on the quality of the welded joints of sheet metal using the aforementioned method. The research was conducted on a joint between two pieces of sheet metal of various thicknesses (1.6mm and 0.8mm) made of the common aviation grade aluminium alloy 7075-T6 Alclad. Metallographic sections of select variants were made in order to analyze the structure of the joint. Strength tests with a static load were conducted in different loading configurations. A traditional tensile strength test was conducted on the lap joint, which revealed a complex stress state within the joint and an analogous test was conducted with the use of a stiffening holder that ensured a pure shear state in the joint. Peel tests were also performed on the lap joints with using a special holder.

This article reports a proposed approach to a frictional resistance description in sheet metal forming processes that enables determination of the friction coefficient value under a wide range of friction conditions without performing time-consuming experiments. The motivation for this proposal is the fact that there exists a considerable amount of factors affect the friction coefficient value and as a result building analytical friction model for specified process conditions is practically impossible. In this proposed approach, a mathematical model of friction behaviour is created using multiple regression analysis and artificial neural networks. The regression analysis was performed using a subroutine in MATLAB programming code and STATISTICA Neural Networks was utilized to build an artificial neural networks model. The effect of different training strategies on the quality of neural networks was studied. As input variables for regression model and training of radial basis function networks, generalized regression neural networks and multilayer networks the results of strip drawing friction test were utilized. Four kinds of Al-Mg alloy sheets were used as a test material.

Stringer-stiffened panels made of aluminium alloys are often used as structural elements in the aircraft industry. The load-carrying capacity of this type of structure cannot relieve the reduction in strength in the event of local buckling. In this paper, a method of fabrication of rib-stiffened panels made of EN AW-2024-T3 Alclad and EN AW-7075-T6 Alclad has been proposed using single point incremental forming. Panels made of sheets of different thickness and with different values of forming parameters were tested under the axial compression test. A digital image correlation (DIC)-based system was used to find the distribution of strain in the panels. The results of the axial compression tests revealed that the panels had two distinct buckling modes: (i) The panels buckled halfway up the panel height towards the rib, without any appreciable loss of rib stability, and (ii) the rib first lost stability at half its height with associated breakage, and then the panel was deflected in the opposite direction to the position of the rib. Different buckling modes can be associated with the character of transverse and longitudinal springback of panels resulting from local interaction of the rotating tool on the surface of the formed ribs.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the interactions between the single point incremental forming (SPIF) process parameters and the main roughness parameters of stiffened ribs fabricated in Alclad aluminium alloy panels. EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-2024-T3 Alclad aluminium alloy sheets were used as the research material. Panels with longitudinal ribs were produced with different values of incremental vertical step size and tool rotational speed. Alclad is formed of high-purity aluminium surface layers metallurgically bonded to aluminium alloy core material. The quality of the surface roughness and unbroken Alclad are key problems in SPIF of Alclad sheets destined for aerospace applications. The interactions between the SPIF process parameters and the main roughness parameters of the stiffened ribs were determined. The influence of forming parameters on average roughness Sa and the 10-point peak–valley surface roughness Sz was determined using artificial neural networks. The greater the value of the incremental vertical step size, the more prominent the ridges found in the inner surface of stiffened ribs, especially in the case of both Alclad aluminium alloy sheets. The predictive models of ANNs for the Sa and the Sz were characterised by performance measures with R2 values lying between 0.657 and 0.979. A different character of change in surface roughness was found for sheets covered with and not covered with a soft layer of technically pure aluminium. In the case of Alclad sheets, increasing the value of the incremental vertical step size increases the value of the surface roughness parameters Sa and Sz. In the case of the sheets not covered by Alclad, reduction of the tool rotational speed increases the Sz parameter and decreases the Sa parameter. An obvious increase in the Sz parameter was observed with an increase in the incremental vertical step size.

The article presents the characteristics of 1.3964 steel and the results of firing a 7.62 mm projectile with a steel core. A simplified Johnson–Cook material model for steel and projectile was used. Then, a FEM (finite element method) simulation was prepared to calibrate the material constants and boundary conditions necessary to be used in simulations of the entire hull model. It was checked how projectile modeling affects the FEM calculation results. After obtaining the simulation results consistent with the experimental results, using the model of a modern minehunter, the resistance of the ship’s hull to penetration by a small-caliber projectile was tested.

This paper presents a new product, a glass laminate aluminium-reinforced epoxy (GLARE)-based thin-walled structure with a stiffener in the form of a longitudinal rib. The stiffening rib in an outer metallic layer of a GLARE-based panel was fabricated by the incremental sheet forming technique and Alclad 2024-T3 aluminium alloy sheets were used as adherends. The strength properties of the adhesive joint between the layers of the fibre metal laminates (FMLs) were determined in a uniaxial tensile test, peel drum test, tensile/shear test and short-beam three-point-bending test. Two variants of FMLs were considered, with an adhesive film and without an adhesive film between the adherends and the epoxy/glass prepreg. The FMLs were tested at three different temperatures that corresponded to those found under real aircraft operating conditions, i.e., −60 °C, room temperature and +80 °C. It was found that the temperatures do not affect the tensile strength and shear strength of the FMLs tested. However, there was a noticeable increase in the stiffness of samples stretched at reduced temperature. An additional adhesive film layer between the adherends and the glass/epoxy prepreg significantly improves the static peeling strength of the joint both at reduced and at elevated temperatures. A clear increase in the critical force at which buckling occurs has been clearly demonstrated in the uniaxial compression test of GLARE-based rib-stiffened panels. In the case of GLARE-based rib-stiffened panels, the critical force averaged 15,370 N, while for the non-embossed variant, it was 11,430 N, which translates into a 34.5% increase in critical force.

Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) shows great potential to be a replacement for single-lap joining techniques such as riveting or resistance spot welding used in the aircraft industry. In this paper, the fatigue behaviour of RFSSW single-lap joints is analysed experimentally in lap-shear specimens of Alclad 7075-T6 aluminium alloy with different thicknesses, i.e., 0.8 mm and 1.6 mm. The joints were tested under low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue tests. Detailed observations of the fatigue fracture characteristics were conducted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The locations of fatigue failure across the weld, fatigue crack initiation, and propagation behaviour are discussed on the basis of the SEM analysis. The possibility of predicting the propagation of fatigue cracks in RFSSW joints is verified based on Paris’s law. Two fatigue failure modes are observed at different load levels, including shear fracture mode transverse crack growth at high stress-loading conditions and at low load levels, and destruction of the lower sheet due to stretching as a result of low stress-loading conditions. The analysis of SEM micrographs revealed that the presence of aluminium oxides aggravates the inhomogeneity of the material in the weld nugget around its periphery and is a source of crack nucleation. The results of the fatigue crack growth rate predicted by Paris’s law were in good agreement with the experimental results.

The dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of metal components formed by the Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) process are greatly affected by the prevailing state of residual stress. An X-ray diffraction method has been applied to achieve an understanding of the residual stress formation caused by the SPIF process of deep drawing a quality steel sheet drawpiece. The test object for an analysis of residual stress distribution was a conical truncated drawpiece with a slope angle of 71° and base diameter of the cone of 65 mm. The forming process has been carried out on a 3-axis HAAS TM1P milling machine. Uniaxial tensile tests have been carried out in the universal tensile testing machine to characterize the material tested. It was found that the inner surface of the drawpiece revealed small linear grooves as a result of the interaction of the tool tip with the workpiece. By contrast, the outer surface was free of grooves which are a source of premature cracking. The stress profile exhibits a nonlinear distribution due to different strengthening of the material along the generating line of the truncated conical drawpiece. The SPIF parts experienced a maximum residual stress value of about 84.5 MPa.

In this paper the results of both friction coefficient and springback testing using a drawbead test are presented. Deep drawing quality steel sheet (DC04 according to EN 10130:2009 standard) was used as the test material. The experimental investigations were carried out using a special device that allows a change in the degree of deformation of the sheet metal on the drawbead. The friction tests were carried out for different values of tool surface roughness, specimen widths and degrees of sheet deformation. Three lubrication conditions were analysed: dry friction, machine oil lubrication and lubrication using methacrylic resin. The springback values were determined based on digital image analysis for selected friction conditions. It was found that the effectiveness of reducing the value of the friction coefficient during the pulling of a sheet on the drawbead depends not only on the lubricant used, but also on the degree of sheet deformation (displacement of the middle roll). The sheet widths influence the friction coefficient value through the character of sheet deformation during the pulling of the sheet through the drawbead.

Adhesive joints may be used instead of forced-in joints, welded and riveted joints, soldered and twisted connections. They are characterized by a lot of advantages, thanks to them the adhesive joints are willingly used in manufacturing processes. These advantages include low price of joint, reduction of weight of the final construction, improvement of durability, reliability and quality and improving visual appearance. From this point of view it should be concluded that experimental tests of adhesive joints are grounded. In the paper the results of experimental tests of static shear strength of single-lap joints are presented. These joints are made with two constructive glues. The specimens made from AISI 4130 steel were glued. Their surfaces were prepared in two versions before gluing: grinded with abrasive paper by hand and cleaned by sand-blasting. The results were analyzed from variable size of the lap point of view.

Many aircraft structures are thin walled and stringer-stiffened, and therefore, prone to a loss of stability. This paper deals with accurate and validated stability analysis of the model of aircraft skin under compressive loading. Both experimental and numerical analyzes are conducted. Two different methods of joining panel elements are considered. In the first case, the panel is fabricated using rivets. In the second variant, the refill friction stir spot welding technique is used. Both types of panels are loaded in axial compression in a uniaxial tensile testing machine. The geometrically and physically nonlinear finite element analyzes of the panels were carried out in ABAQUS/Standard. The Digital Image Correlation measurement system ARAMIS has been utilized to monitor the buckling behavior and failure mode in the skin-stringer interface of the stiffened panels. The results of experiments and the digital image correlation system are presented and compared to the numerical simulations.