Short communication Characterization of mechanical properties in AISI 1040 parts welded by friction welding Mumin Sahin a, ⁎ , H. Erol Akata a , Turgut Gulmez b a Department of Mech. Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Trakya University, 22030-Edirne, Turkey b Department of Mech. Engineering, Mechanical Faculty, ITU, Istanbul, Turkey Received 3 January 2005; received in revised form 21 September 2006; accepted 21 September 2006 Abstract This study deals with the importance of welding in manufacturing methods. There are various welding methods that have been developed to obtain suitable joints in various applications. However, friction welding, which is an alternative manufacturing method, is one of the methods that has been widely used for many years. In the present study, an experimental friction welding set- up, which is a continuous drive friction welding set-up, was used in the experiments. Firstly, optimum parameters were obtained to join parts having equal diameter. Secondly, the effects of welding parameters on welding strength were investigated. Later, the mechanical properties of joints were examined by using tensile tests, fatigue tests, notch-impact tests and hardness tests. Finally, the results obtained were shown and discussed. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Welding; Friction welding; AISI 1040 steel; Joint strength 1. Introduction Friction welding is one of the welding methods that are becoming more important than any other method. In the process, heat is generated by conversion of mechanical energy into thermal energy at the interfaces of the components during rotation under pressure. Friction time, friction pressure, upset time, upset pressure and rotation speed are the most important parameters of friction welding. These factors must be controlled so as to obtain a uniform and strong joint. Solid and tubular parts having good joint strength can also be joined successfully by using this method. Owing to the combined heat and pressure, the interface of parts Materials Characterization 58 (2007) 1033 – 1038 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 284 2251395; fax: +90 284 2126067. E-mail address: mumins@trakya.edu.tr (M. Sahin). Fig. 1. Parameters on continuous drive friction welding. 1044-5803/$ - see front matter © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2006.09.008