Comparison between Riveted Joints and Friction STIR Welded Joints of AA2014 Aluminum Alloy

AA2014 aluminum alloy has been widely used in aircraft and automotive industries as structural members. Conventionally, these structures were fabricated using rivets, as it is difficult to join this alloy by fusion welding processes. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) can be successfully applied to replace the riveted construction of aluminum alloy (AA2014) in aircraft structures. Hence, an attempt has been made to evaluate and compare the load carrying capabilities of FSW joints and riveted joints of AA2014 aluminum alloy. FSW joints were fabricated using optimized process parameters, and riveted joints were fabricated using standard shop floor practice in butt and lap configurations. FSW joints exhibited 75% higher tensile and shear fracture load compared to the riveted joints.