Enhancing Friction Stir Welding in Fishing Boat Construction through Deep Learning-Based Optimization

In the present study, the authors have attempted to present a novel approach for the prediction, analysis, and optimization of the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process based on the Deep Neural Network (DNN) model. To obtain the DNN structure with high accuracy, the most focus has been on the number of hidden layers and the activation functions. The DNN was developed by a small database containing results of tensile and hardness tests of welded 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. This material and the production method were selected based on the application in the construction of fishing boat flooring, because on the one hand, it faces the corrosion caused by proximity to sea water and on the other hand, due to direct contact with human food, i.e., fish etc., antibacterial issues should be considered. All the major parameters of the FSW process, including axial force, rotational speed, and traverse speed as well as tool diameter and tool hardness, were considered to investigate their correspondence effects on the tensile strength and hardness of welded zone. The most important achievement of this research showed that by using SAE for pre-training of neural networks, higher accuracy can be obtained in predicting responses. Finally, the optimal values for various welding parameters were reported as rotational speed: 1600 rpm, traverse speed: 65 mm/min, axial force: 8 KN, shoulder and pin diameters: 15.5 and 5.75 mm, and tool hardness: 50 HRC. © 2023 by the author(s).