Effect of vibration-assisted TIG welding process parameters on the impact strength of AA5052 welded joints with filler ER5356

The 5052 aluminum alloy's outstanding mechanical properties and weldability have made it exceedingly common in a variety of industrial applications. However, shallow penetration issues and coarser grain structure are common with conventional TIG welding. This work investigates the effects of low-frequency vibration assistance during Tungsten Inert Gas welding on the impact strength and microstructure of AA5052 weldments in order to overcome these constraints. A dedicated Low-Frequency Vibration-Assisted TIG Welding (LFV-TIGW) arrangement was established to assess the impact of vibration assistance. 5 mm-thick butt-welded AA5052 plates were utilized in this study and welded at 150, 200, and 250A welding current with vibrational frequencies ranging from 0 to 100 Hz. To attain the maximum impact strength, the Taguchi optimization technique and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were applied to optimize the process parameters (vibration frequency, vibration duration, and heat input). Through statistical analysis, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and ANOVA, vibration frequency has been found to be an important factor influencing the strength and durability of the welded connection. The results reveal that, with a heat input of 169 A, a vibration frequency of 100 Hz, and a vibration duration of 74 seconds, the optimal impact strength of 8.10 J was experimentally attained, nearly matching the predicted impact strength value of 8.69 J. SEM investigation has confirmed the microstructure refinement brought on by mechanical excitations.