Monitoring of the mechanical load and thermal history during friction stir channelling under constant position and constant force control modes

In the present investigation, constant position and constant force process control modes; and representative process temperature measurements were analysed during the application of the friction stir channelling process. The experimental tests were carried out using rolled plates of AA5083-H111 with thickness of 15 mm. Results show that the FSC process was found not stable during the forward traverse movement stage when it is performed via position control. For both control modes, the tool was subjected to a more severe loading during the initial plunge than during the channelling period. Moreover, it was found that the tool vertical position is not significantly affected during the channelling stage when the process was force controlled. From the temperature measurements carried out, it was recorded a maximum process temperature of about 330 °C.