TWI Digital Library

With regard to the development of spin-formed domes for aerospace cryogenic fuel storage tanks, an investigation is presented into a friction stir welding (FSW) process for AA 2219 and AA 2195 aluminium alloys and the influence of FSW tool and proce…

An investigation was undertaken into the wear mechanism and dominant material factors in relation to friction stir welding (FSW) tools made from precipitation strengthened, cobalt based alloys during FSW of Ti, 6%Al, 4%V alloys. Various gamma-gamma'…

Magnesium alloy AZ31H-H24 sheet of 3.175 mm in thickness was friction stir welded (FSW) using an H-13 tool having a shoulder of 20 mm diameter and a slightly tapered pin (4.5-5.5 mm diameter). Welds were made at 1000-2000 rpm and 20-300 mm/minute. T…

A coupled numerical and experimental investigation was undertaken to examine residual stress fields and thermal distortion in lap joints made from AA 5754-H22 alloy sheets (thickness 1 mm) by friction stir welding in order to examine the influence o…

The effects of stir rod angle (0-3 degrees), rotation speed (500-2500 rpm) and travel speed (1-8 mm/s) on metal flow in friction stir welds in pure aluminium (A-1100) and an Al-0.5%Mg alloy (A-5005) were studied. The microstructure, hardness and ten…

The development of robots, tools and control systems for three-dimensional friction stir welding of aluminium alloy plate up to 10 mm thickness is described. Robots have been developed with a triangulated arm construction, which provides the necessa…

Shipbuilding applications of friction stir welding in the production of prefabricated aluminium alloy sections are described. Panels of up to 13 x 16 m, thickness 3-7 mm, may be produced with close tolerances and good surface finish, reducing cost a…

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 (…

Preliminary results from a 3-dimensional heat and material flow computer simulation program for friction stir welding are given and compared with experimental observations. The simulation is based upon solutions of Navier-Stokes equations and nonlin…

In relation to the application of ferritic/martensitic steels as cladding and duct materials in advanced nuclear reactors, an investigation is presented into the friction stir welding of P91 high alloy steel (0.11%C, 0.45%Mn, 8.41%Cr, 0.96%Mo) plate…

A techno-economic assessment study was undertaken with respect to the feasibility of the friction stir welding (FSW) technique for microalloyed DH36 grade shipbuilding steel (0.11%C, 1.48%Mn, 0.02%Nb, 0.02%Al) plates (thickness 6 mm). Single sided f…

The optimal conditions for the friction stir welding of high-N-containing austenitic stainless steel were evaluated. The influence of heat input (welding speed (50-400 mm/min)) on the surface appearance, macrostructure, microstructure, hardness, yie…

Numerical modelling and experimental measurements were undertaken to investigate the extension and microstructure of the HAZ during friction stir welding (FSW) of 7075 aluminium alloy (Al, 5.86%Zn, 2.37%Mg, 1.91%Cu) thin sheets (thickness 1.2 mm). W…

Process force and discontinuity models were derived to estimate the forces observed in friction stir welding (FSW) in order to develop a method of detecting discontinuities during FSW using physics-based process modelling. FSW welded joints with and…

Single run friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on plate specimens (thickness 6 mm) of 7A60-T6 aluminium alloys (Al, 8.89%Zn, 2.74%Mg, 2.26%Cu) and the relationship between process parameters, microstructure and mechanical propert…

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 effects of post weld heat treatments on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of friction stir welded dissimilar aluminium alloy joints (2024/6056) were studied. Sheets of 4 mm thickness were first joined in heat treatments T3 for 2…

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…

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…

The paper comprises copies of the presentation slides which describe the development of welding experiments and equipment to provide experimental data to validate process models of the friction stir welding process. Data obtained include tool parame…