TWI Digital Library

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate welded joints in AA 7475-T7351 aluminium alloy plates (thickness 6.35 mm) and the effect of kissing bond defects on fatigue life and other mechanical properties was investigated. Welded test specimens …

A thermal-pseudo-mechanical model, based on the use of material temperature-dependent yield stress as the driver for heat input, was proposed for heat generation in friction stir welding, and simulation results were compared with experimental temper…

A two-step modelling procedure, consisting of a thermo-fluid model and a thermo-mechanical model, was employed to predict temperature, flow and residual stress fields around the workpiece block, steel backing plate and tool in friction stir welding …

The application of suitable friction stir welding (FSW) tools and procedures to common structural geometries in industry, with emphasis of FSW of hard metals including steel, titanium and nickel based alloys in butt, T-joint, corner joint and circum…

An experimental investigation is presented into the fatigue properties of welded joints made by friction stir welding (FSW) of 2024-T4 (Al, 4.4%Cu, 0.6%Mn, 1.5%Mg) and 2014-T6 (Al, 4.5%Cu, 0.8%Mn, 0.5%Mg) aircraft alloys and their dependence on proc…

Extruded AZ31 (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn) alloy plates (thickness 6 mm) were joined by one-run or two-run friction stir welding (FSW) and the microstructure, mechanical properties and residual stress characteristics of the welded joints were investigated. FSW …

Friction stir welding experiments were undertaken on Ti-6%Al-4%V sheets (thickness 2 mm) in order to investigate the influence of process conditions on stir zone microstructure and local texture. Welding was performed at rotational speeds of 225-300…

A hybrid welding system called ultrasound supported friction stir welding was developed to mitigate the strength reducing effects of brittle intermetallic phase layers and was applied to the fabrication of dissimilar joints between wrought aluminium…

An experimental investigation was undertaken to examine how tool pin induced material flow and intermetallic growth conditions affect the formation of discontinuity during friction stir lap welding of dissimilar Al-Cu joints. The materials comprised…

An economic analysis was undertaken to compare the costs of onshore and offshore pipeline construction scenarios for welds made using friction stir welding (FSW) and conventional mechanised MIG/MAG welding. Pipe diameters of 1067 and 305 mm were sel…

Models to predict the precipitate and grain size evolution in AA7449 aluminium alloy friction stir welds are presented and compared with experimental data. Bead on plate welds on 3.2 mm thickness sheets of composition Al, 8.4%Zn, 2.1%Mg, 1.8%Cu were…

With regard to the occurrence of residual oxide defects associated with friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys, an investigation is presented into a possible alternative mechanism for oxide formation within the weld nugget involving enhance…

A method investigated by Sweden for storage of nuclear waste in copper canisters sealed using friction stir welding (where EB welding has been used before) is described. Topics include: Nimonic 105 and Densimet sintered tungsten alloy tool; welding …

The numerical simulation of the friction stir welding process using two different commercial finite element codes is described. FORGE3, which uses an updated Lagrangian approach, was used to simulate the plunge of the pin and the THERCAST package, w…

Evaluation of phased array ultrasonic inspection for the detection of typical friction stir weld defects is reported. Characteristics of friction stir welds with respect to inspectability are described. Phased array operation is outlined. A variety …

Friction stir welded joints in aluminium alloy 6061-T6 sheet were produced using a robot arm, to assess the ability of the arm to withstand the mechanical stresses associated with friction stir welding. The arm was fitted with an electrically powere…

A friction stir welding tool with a variable length probe (suitable for variable thickness joints, repairs and circumferential welding) was developed and evaluated for the welding of aluminium alloy 2195. Tapered sheet, of both increasing and decrea…

Friction stir welding of aluminium alloys suitable for railway and shipbuilding applications was investigated. Sheet of 4 mm thickness of alloys 6N01-T5 (Al, 0.7%Mg, 0.6%Si, 0.1%Cu) and 5083-H112 (Al, 4.7%Mg) were friction stir welded, and the joint…

A friction stir welding technology was developed to facilitate welding extruded profiles together as a whole side wall in an aluminium railway wagon for coal transportation. The material employed was an AA 6061-T6 alloy plate (thickness 7 mm). Some …

An investigation is presented into tool material development of large polycrystalline cubic BN blanks to facilitate friction stir welding of thick section steel specimens (thickness 9.5 or 20 mm). Tool materials were produced from 90% polycrystallin…