TWI

Friction stir welding (FSW) is discussed in manufacture of a sports car body made largely of aluminium alloy sheet with some components of cast aluminium or extruded aluminium, and the only steel used is the frame for the windscreen. Advantages are listed of using FSW in fabrication of a three-part tailor welded blank (EN AW 6016 T4 sheet of 1.25, 2 and 1.5 mm thickness) used to make the centre tunnel, which is a structural component with stiffness for crash resistance. The production sequence is given and quality control measures are presented. Similar information is given regarding production of components of the floor structure, in which FSW is used to join three individual extruded profiles of EN AW 6106 T6. Annual production data is presented for several other applications of FSW.

9th International Symposium, 15-17 May 2012, Session 2A: Applications I, Paper 01