Design of laser welding applied to T joints between steel and aluminium

Laser conduction welding was used to directly join DH36 steel to AA5083 aluminium alloy in a T joint configuration, each plate with 6 mm of thickness. The effect of the process energy (via power density and interaction time) on the joint integrity and quality in terms of cracking, porosity and intermetallic compound layer formation was investigated. Successful T joints were produced by melting of the aluminium plate, which was inserted into a 4 mm deep groove machined on the steel plate, with the heat generated by the laser irradiation on the steel surface. The IMC layer thickness was less than 5 μm. Although cracking was observed along the IMC layer with higher levels of energies, the joints were still strong due to the mechanical inter-locking effect resulting from the novel design of the component, whereby the IMCs were subjected to compressive state of stress while loading.