TWI Digital Library

A study was conducted to assess friction stir spot welding (FSSW), to identify and investigate the effects of the principal FSSW parameters and to investigate the effectiveness of common friction stir welding (FSW) tool designs when used for FSSW. A…

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of fusion welded aluminium alloys. MIG welds in plates of thickness 6 mm of 5083-H321 aluminium alloy (…

Thermocouples were mounted in a friction stir welding (FSW) tool to measure its temperature during the FSW of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 (Al, 1.0%Mg, 0.61%Si, 0.27%Cu, 0.10%Mn) sheet of 3 mm thickness. Type K thermocouples were mounted at various dista…

Friction stir welds in S355 carbon manganese steel plate of 12 mm thickness were characterised by microstructural studies and measurements of mechanical properties. A tungsten-rhenium alloy tool with a pin length of 7.5 mm was used, running at 400 r…

The viability of robotic friction stir welding (FSW) has been enhanced by the development of robots with payloads up to 500 kg, with enhanced arm stiffness and improved force control capability. A robot welding system is described which has features…

4th International Symposium, 14-16 May 2003, Session 5A: Aerospace 2, Paper 01

Details are reported of application of friction stir welding (FSW) to manufacture of double skin bodies of railway carriages for commuter lines in Japan. A "defect free" FSW process is used to weld double skin panels of length 25 m using hollow extr…

3rd International Symposium, 27-28 Sep 2001, Poster Session, Paper 13

Development work by TWI on behalf of the Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co. for the EB and friction stir welding of lids onto Cu radioactive waste disposal canisters (1050 mm diameter, 50 mm wall thickness) is reviewed. In 1986, when th…

Friction stir welding was evaluated as a cheaper alternative to the use of fasteners for the joining of lap joints of the aluminium alloy 7075-T351 motor thrust frame of the Ariane 5 rocket. In initial trials to optimise the tool design for lap join…

The use of phased array ultrasonics for the detection of small defects in welds is described, and illustrated using a series of examples of friction stir welded aluminium alloy plate. Phased arrays use an array of ultrasonic elements pulsed with dif…

The microstructure, crystallographic texture and grain distribution were determined in a transverse cross section of a friction stir weld and in a plan-view section through the embedded friction stir welding (FSW) tool. The weld was obtained by FSW …

The microstructure, mechanical properties and fatigue behaviour of friction stir welded (FSW) and MIG welded butt joints in aluminium alloy 2519-T87 (Al, 5.3-6.4%Cu, 0.1-0.5%Mn, 0.02-0.1%Ti) plate of 25.4 mm thickness were compared. Friction stir we…

The distortion, mechanical properties and microstructure of friction stir, submerged arc and GMA welds in HSLA-65 steel (0.09%C, 1.32-1.39%Mn, 0.01-0.06%Ni, 0.041-0.067%V, 0.03-0.035%Nb) and DH-36 steel (0.18%C, 0.90-1.60%Mn, 0.25%Cr, 0.40%Ni, 0.08%…

A description is presented on the friction stir welding (FSW) equipment developed for the joining of thin gauge complex-contour aluminium structures for the construction of the Eclipse 500 twin-engine jet aircraft. The design and capabilities of the…

The use of a new tool material, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), developed by Brigham Young University in association with Advanced Metal Products, for friction stir welding (FSW) high-temperature materials was investigated. The manufactu…

Friction stir welding tool developments to enhance the range of process applications, welding speed and quality are described. The scroll shoulder tool has a shoulder profile which moves surface material towards the probe. It improves surface qualit…

The relationship between microstructure and hardness was investigated in friction stir welded aluminium alloy 6063-T5. The alloy thickness was 6 mm. Hardness profiles were measured across the stir zone. The microstructure of the as-welded and postwe…

The feasibility of joining layers of dissimilar metals (aluminium and steel) by friction stir welding (FSW) was investigated. Aluminium (A-1050-O) was placed above steel (JIS S50C carbon steel). The tool revolution was 3000 rpm and the tool feed rat…

The development of orbital friction stir welding (FSW) technology for joining aluminium pipes for gas insulated power transmission lines (GIL) is described. The equipment is outlined: hydraulic unit, control panel, FSW head with steel wire rope and …