Residual stresses in spot welded new generation aluminium alloys Part A – thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of 6111 and 5754 aluminium alloys

Thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of 5754 and 6111 aluminium alloys were experimentally determined between room temperature and 500 degrees C for use as input in the numerical simulation of residual stress generated during fusion welding processes of these materials. The thermophysical properties determined included specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal expansion using the differential scanning calorimeter, laser flash technique and the dilatometer, respectively. Thermal conductivity was also calculated from thermal diffusivity, specific heat and density. The thermomechanical properties determined included yield strength, elastic modulus and Poisson ratio. The yield strength was determined using tensile test specimens in a heated chamber. The Poisson ratio and elastic modulus were determined using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy.