TWI

A report is presented into the development of a refill friction stir spot welding (FSSW) robot system, performance evaluation with respect to FSSW of aircraft aluminium alloys, and fabrication of full-scale aircraft production components. The FSSW r…

The friction stir weldability of the dissimilar materials copper and aluminium alloy was studied, assessing the effects of different process parameters (rotation and traverse speeds, rotation direction (Cu or Al on advancing side), displacement and …

An abrasion circle friction stir spot welding (ABC-FSSW) technique was employed to fabricate dissimilar metal joints between aluminium and steel automotive sheets, and the microstructure, mechanical properties and weld formation mechanisms of the jo…

Similar overlap and dissimilar butt joints were fabricated by friction stir spot joining of AA 6061-T6 (Al, 1-1.1%Mg, 0.66-0.67%Si) and AA 5052-H34 (Al, 2.58%Mg) sheets of thickness 1 and 2 mm, respectively, and microstructural analysis was used to …

Aluminium alloy fusion welds were modified by friction stir processing (FSP) as a function of FSP location and tool design, and differences between the FSP locations and tools were quantified by microstructure and mechanical property measurements (u…

The incorporation of strips of copper foil in friction stir welded aluminium alloy plate was evaluated for flow visualisation without disturbing the welding process. The strips, of 0.1 mm thickness, were placed in various longitudinal and transverse…

Guidance notes devised for Lloyd's Register of Shipping surveyors for use in the quality assurance of friction stir welded aluminium alloys are presented.The notes cover: welding equipment, materials welded, and welding requirements (weld qualificat…

In relation to the development of "AIRWARE" technology based on Al-Cu-Li alloys for aircraft structural parts, a report is presented into the friction stir welding (FSW) of "AIRWARE" 2050 alloys, mechanical characterisation of welded joints, and ind…

A conceptual model was developed to describe the relationship between process variables and physical properties such as spindle torque, heat generation and workpiece temperature distribution for friction stir welding of aluminium alloys. The materia…

The results of a programme to establish self reacting friction stir welding for thin gauge (less than 3 mm) aluminium alloy applications are reported divided into the five major phases: tool development; joint evaluation; strength optimisation; prot…

Quantification approaches applied to phase space data generated from friction stir welding aluminium alloys under varying process conditions are reported. A multi-step, micro-wormhole, non-destructive evaluation phase-spaced, (PS) algorithm that com…

An overview is presented of the twenty year history and technological developments relating to the application of friction stir welding (FSW) to aluminium alloy railway car body shells. Issues discussed include the history of railway car body shell …

A series of models was used to study weld formation in 6000-series aluminium alloy in the friction stir welding process. Weld formation was considered as three separate thermomechanical processes: coupled friction heat generation; plastic flow slip …

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on sheet specimens (thickness 4 mm) of AISI 304 stainless steel (17.5-19.5%Cr, 8-10.5%Ni) using different uncoated and coated tungsten and WC-based tools, and tool wear and failure mechanisms w…

A friction stir spot welding process variant was evaluated, which was intended to remove the hole left in the weld when the probe is removed, and consequently improve weld properties. In the two-step procedure, first a backing plate was used that ha…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was employed to fabricate hybrid joints between wrought AA 5454 aluminium alloys and AZ 91 die cast magnesium alloys, and the weldability, microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion and fracture behaviour of the wel…

Conventional friction stir welding (FSW), hybrid FSW and thermal stir welding were evaluated and compared for the joining of a nickel-based superalloy Haynes 230. Welds were made in Haynes 230 NiCrW alloy (20-24%Cr, 13-15%W, 6.4 mm thickness), an in…

Defects and their mitigation associated with the fabrication of fluid-cooled aluminium alloy heatsinks for electronic applications are discussed. The heatsink consisted of an aluminium alloy 6063 substrate (310 x 300 mm) with a series of rectangular…

Arcan tests (pure tensile, pure shear and mixed tensile/shear loads) were performed on parent material (6056-T78 aluminium alloy) and friction stir welded (FSW) specimens for comparison purposes and to assess the capability of strain field measureme…

Stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) and conventional FSW experiments were undertaken on AA 7050-T7651 alloy plates (thickness 6.3 mm) to demonstrate the advantages of SSFSW with respect to surface finish, thermal profile symmetry, HAZ …