Enhancing the Fatigue Properties of Friction Welded AISI 1020 Grade Steel Joints using Post Weld Heat Treatment Process in Optimized Condition

Abstract

Abstract Fatigue life is the most important criteria in each and every areas subjected to loading. The prediction of fatigue life is essential in the field of engineering sciences and it only defines the quality and life time of the materials subjected to loading. Therefore, the ultimate aim of this research work article is to predict the fatigue life of friction welded AISI 1020 grade low carbon steel joints before and after Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) process for which the welding parameters have been optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) as per ANOVA design matrix in order to obtain the maximum strength in the joints. The different size of the grains encountered due to the variation of temperature, pressure and solidification at various zones during the process before and after the post weld heat treatment in As-welded and post welded conditions were analyzed using an optical microscope. The microstructural features and the fracture surfaces of friction welded AISI 1020 grade steel joint using optimized parameters with parent metal microstructure are compared and analyzed.