TWI Digital Library

The viscoplastic behaviour of two aluminium alloys (non heat-treatable AA5083-H111 and heat-treatable AA6082-T6) was analysed by performing tensile tests at different temperatures and strain rates and the friction stir weldability of the materials i…

In the last fifteen years, friction stir welding has developed from a laboratory curiosity to an important fabrication technique for lightweight, lower softening temperature alloys. Industrial implementation of joining magnesium has been limited alm…

Dissimilar joints between AA 6061 aluminium alloy (Al, 0.91%Mg, 0.52%Si, 0.6%Fe) sheets (thickness 2 mm) and zinc-coated HIF-GA (high strength interstitial-free galvannealed) steel (0.002%C, 0.09%Si, 0.47%Mn) sheets (thickness 1 mm) were fabricated …

Some numerical and experimental results are presented to illustrate the ability of the SignaStir laser ultrasonic testing system to monitor the occurrence of voids, cavities and lack of root penetration defects during friction stir welding (FSW). A …

Butt joints between dissimilar aluminium alloys were fabricated by friction stir spot welding (FSSW) in order to investigate the influence of process conditions on material flow phenomena and intermixing patterns. The dissimilar joint combinations s…

The origin of the lines of micrometre sized oxide particles observed in aluminium alloy friction stir welds was investigated. Butt and bead on plate welds were prepared using 6 mm plate of aluminium (99.999%Al and 99.5%Al) and aluminium alloy 6056 (…

The evolution of microstructure and mechanisms occurring at the (sub)micron scale during friction stir spot welding of transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel were investigated. Welds were made in TRIP690 steel (0.24%C, 1.6%Al, 2%Mn, 0.3%Si, …

Thermomechanical and microstructural modelling were performed for the friction stir welding process, simulating the thermal diffusion during and after welding (in the cooling stage), and comparing the results with experimental data obtained for fric…

An approach to welded joint inspection incorporating in situ characterisation of weld quality was developed to facilitate the detection of discontinuities (e.g. voids and volume defects) during friction stir welding (FSW). FSW experiments were perfo…

Curved overlap joints of a 7B04 aluminium alloy were fabricated using the "RoboStir" robotic friction stir welding system and their microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The experimental set-up incorporated an ABB IRB7600 robot…

A friction stir welding (FSW) process map for AA 7075-T6 aluminium alloy (Al, 5.1-6.1%Zn, 2.1-2.9%Mg, 1.2-2%Cu) was determined using combined NDT techniques such as visual inspection, dye penetrant testing, X-ray radiography and ultrasonic testing a…

A report is presented into the friction stir welding (FSW) fabrication of an aluminium deck for a pedestrian bridge over the Petite Decharge river (Alma, Quebec, Canada), incorporating the design and manufacturing of extrusions, FSW tools and a syst…

A methodology to facilitate cost-effective friction stir welding (FSW) of large and complex 3D structures is presented based on a parallel kinematic machine concept called Pentapod, and welding trial results for spherical structures and dissimilar m…

Ni3Al/Ni3V dual two-phase intermetallic alloys, incorporating Ta and Re additions, with enhanced high-temperature strength and hardness, were developed for friction stir welding tool applications and applied to fabricate butt welds in SUS 430 steel …

Modified Gleeble hot torsion testing was used to simulate four microstructure regions in HSLA-65 steel (0.07%C, 0.24%Si, 1.5%Mn, 0.14%Cr, 0.34%Ni, 0.25%Cu, 0.06%Mo) joints fabricated by friction stir welding (FSW) and the results were verified by op…

In relation to weight and cost saving on spaceflight pressure vessels, two friction stir lap welding methods were demonstrated on large-scale thin-gauge hardware and evaluated with respect to tooling and tooling cost reduction, lap joint stiffness a…

A direct modelling approach ("SAMCEF" software finite element simulation) coupled with an inverse model, based on genetic algorithm optimisation (MAX software), was applied to the friction stir welding (FSW) process for two aluminium alloys (6005A-T…

Welding trials are reported to demonstrate joint formation between S45C mild steel and aluminium alloy 6063 using a friction stir diffusion process. Welding experiments were undertaken using a machining centre with a cemented carbide rotating tool, …

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 …

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…