Post-weld heat treatment of aluminium alloys

Abstract

A heat treatable alloy is normally used in a heat treated condition in service. However if the material has to be welded, the heat input during the welding process ruins the heat treatment given to the parent metal at the vicinity of the weld. As such, post-weld heat treatment is normally carried out but the problem is that the weld material is not heat treatable although it is affected by the heat treatment process. The aim of this thesis is to anlayse the effect that the heat treatment processes have on the weld deposit. Tests will be carried out to determine which types of heat treatment processes enhance the strength and fatigue characteristics and which processes have a detrimental effect on the weld deposit.