TWI Digital Library

The StiRoLight Research project (carried out in conjunction with SAAB, ESAB and Volvo) to investigate the use of an industrial robot for friction stir welding of aluminium alloys in the automobile industry, is outlined and studies of path deviations…

The test results are reported for preliminary trials of the feasibility and benefits of applying angular reciprocating (reversal within one revolution) or rotary reversal (reversal after one or more revolutions) motion to the tool during friction st…

Friction stir welding of UK Ministry of Defence Def Stan 95-22 7017 aluminium alloy (Al, 4.5%Zn, 2.0%Mg) armour plate was evaluated by studying the mechanical properties and cracking of welded joints. Initially plate of 10 mm thickness, locally redu…

The principles are presented of stationary shoulder friction stir welding (FSW) with examples of the weld microstructures that can be achieved. Trials were conducted on 6.35 mm plate of Ti-6%Al-4%V titanium alloy, with spindle speed of 400 rpm and t…

A series of friction stir welding (FSW) experiments using threaded tool pins and AA5083 (Al, 4.5%Mg, 0.6%Mn) or A356 (Al, 7%Si, 0.3%Mg) workpiece alloys was undertaken in order to understand material flow mode within thread spaces and its influence …

Friction stir welding trials were undertaken on AA 7075-T7351 aluminium alloy plates (thickness 9.525 mm) to investigate the influence of backing plate characteristics on heat input and cooling rate. Experiments were performed on an MTI RM2 friction…

Two friction stir welding (FSW) procedures, a sacrificial anvil method and a hybrid FSW/arc welding technique, were developed to assure consistent full penetration welds during the construction of offshore and onshore pipelines, respectively. The of…

An accurate temperature feedback strategy and closed-loop feedback control system for temperature have been developed for friction stir welding. A wireless data acquisition system was constructed to measure temperatures at the tool-workpiece interfa…

A production-capable friction stir welding (FSW) process was developed for butt welds (penetration 25.4 mm) in 6061-T6 aluminium alloys, designed specifically for robotic welding of large box assemblies requiring many multi-dimensional weld paths, a…

A finite element model based on a staggered thermo-fluid solution scheme was employed to investigate flow around friction stir welding (FSW) tools, "MORFEO" code simulations were undertaken to predict flow patterns and temperature distribution in th…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was employed to join partially recrystallised AA 5052 (Al, 2.3%Mg) sheet specimens (thickness 5 mm) and the relationship between microstructural development, mechanical properties and process parameters was investigated. …

Microstructural and textural variations in friction stir weld-affected regions of near-alpha Ti-5111 alloys (Ti, 5%Al, 1%Sn, 1%Zr, 1%V, 0.8%Mo) were investigated experimentally and a model incorporating micro-shear banding was proposed to account fo…

An investigation was undertaken to examine the effect of adding aluminium to magnesium on the strength of dissimilar joints between steel and magnesium fabricated by friction stir welding. The materials studied were pure 3N magnesium, AZ31 (Mg, 2.9%…

With regard to the requirement to produce friction stir welded (FSW) lap joints with strength and fatigue properties suitable for commercial regional aircraft, work undertaken by MTS Systems and Bombardier Aerospace to develop pin tools and corrosio…

A report is presented into recent advances made in friction stir welding (FSW) of 7075 aluminium alloy and 12%Cr alloy steel plates (thickness 12 mm) using refractory metal tools in conjunction with a variety of surface modifications, including stud…

The degradation mechanisms of friction stir welding (FSW) tools made of three tungsten alloys were investigated. Tools were made from 99%W-1%La2O3, 75%W-25%Re and 70%W-20%Re-10%HfC. These were used to make friction stir welds in high strength steel …

The hybrid component of the combination magnesium’s lightness and aluminum’s formability should be useful for energy saving. The welding of dissimilar metallic materials is difficult for their difference in melting temperatures and the formation of …

The effect of tool pin displacement on defect formation in friction stir welded (FSW) 5052 Al alloy and C11000 copper in butt joint configurations was investigated, with the tool pin plunged first in copper, secondly at the weld joint centre line an…

A review is presented of FSW (friction stir welding) tool design parameters and their relationship with heat generation, material flow and weld quality, including discussions of interaction mechanisms between tool and specimen, typical tool designs,…

8th International Symposium, 18-20 May 2010, Session 5A: Industrial Applications 1, Paper 03