Evaluation of mechanical property predictions of refill Friction Stir Spot Welding joints via machine learning regression analyses on DoE data

The high-potential of lightweight components consisting of similar or dissimilar materials can be exploited by Solid-State Joining techniques. Whereas defects such as pores and hot cracking are often an issue in fusion-based joining processes, via solid-state joining processes they can be avoided to enable high-quality welds. To define an optimal process window for obtaining anticipated joint properties, numerous time and cost consuming experiments are usually required. Building a predictive model based on regression analysis enables the identification and quantification of process-property relationships. On the one hand, mechanical property and performance predictions based on specific process parameters are needed, on the other hand, inverse determination of required process parameters for reaching desired properties or performances are demanded. If these relations are obtained, optimized process parameter sets can be identified while vast numbers of required experiments can be reduced, as underlying physical mechanisms are utilized. In this study, different regression analysis algorithms, such as linear regression, decision trees and random forests, are applied to the refill Friction Stir Spot Welding process for establishing correlations between process parameters and joint properties. Experimental data sets used for training and testing are based on a Box-Behnken Design of Experiments (DoE) and additional test experiments, respectively. The machine-learning based regression analyses are benchmarked against linear regression and DoE statistics. The results illustrate a decryption of relationships along the process-property chain and its deployment to predict mechanical properties governed by process parameters.