Study on deformation and microstructure characterizations of mild steel joints by continuous drive friction welding

Macro-deformation characteristics of continuous drive friction welded mild steel joints were examined by using one deformable workpiece (objective) and the other undeformable one (rigid). The microstructure evolution and hardness change across the joint were studied. The results show that the axial shortening and radial increment of joints increase with increasing the friction time at 1200 rpm. The cementite particles of pearlites in the weld center are uniformly distributed on the ferrite matrix, while the cementites of the pearlite in the thermal-mechanically affected zone are broken and discontinuously dispersed in the pearlite. The hardness decreases rapidly from the weld center to the parent metal under the coupled effects of heat and deformation during the rapid heating and cooling processes.