TWI Digital Library

Friction stir welding (FSW) has been used to weld aluminum alloys such as 7075 to 7075, which is considered not weldable by most other methods. In this application FSW was used to join two dissimilar aluminum alloys 7075 and 6N pure copper in a lap …

Friction stir welding experiments were undertaken on thin sheet specimens (thickness 0.8 mm) of 5754-H111 alloys (Al, 2.7%Mg) in a butt joint configuration, and the influence of process conditions on microstructural, mechanical and corrosion propert…

A real-time wireless temperature measurement system was developed to facilitate improved temperature measurement at the tool-workpiece interface and a closed-loop control system for friction stir welding (FSW) that maintains weld quality under vario…

With regard to the production of wear resistant friction stir welding (FSW) tools by laser implantation of ceramic particles, an investigation was undertaken to examine the effect of laser implantation on tool surface hardness, abrasive wear and lif…

Friction stir welding (FSW) trials were carried out for thin HSLA-65 steel plate (6 mm thickness) to evaluate the potential benefits of using induction preheat. Other studies including tool design and multi-run welding are also evaluated as methods …

Dissimilar butt joints between A516 steel (0.15%C, 0.95%Mn, 0.03%Cr, 0.01%Ni, 0.29%Al) and Inconel 625 (Ni, 22.6%Cr, 9.4%Mo, 3.5%Nb) were fabricated by friction stir welding and recrystallisation and texture properties were investigated. Welding was…

An extensive study of friction stir welding (FSW) of HSLA-65 steel plate (thickness 6 mm) was undertaken, incorporating defect-free friction stir butt welding at a travel speed of 3.4 mm/s, the achievement of low/no distortion FSW by employing appro…

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…

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…

Numerical simulations and experimental tests were undertaken to visualise material flow and to study the effect of the flow field on the mixing mechanism and particle break-up in friction stir welding of metal matrix composites. A 3D thermo-fluid mo…

Friction stir welding (FSW) is discussed in manufacture of a sports car body made largely of aluminium alloy sheet with some components of cast aluminium or extruded aluminium, and the only steel used is the frame for the windscreen. Advantages are …

Nondestructive testing of friction stir welds is discussed. The ultrasonic testing of friction stir welded joints, advantages of phased array testing and test applications are presented briefly. The eddy current array testing technique is illustrate…

Fatigue tests were performed using lap-shear specimens of friction stir spot welded Al, 0.8%Mg, 1%Si alloys. Sheet specimens (thickness 2 mm) were subjected to PWHT of solution treatment and/or ageing. Weld zone microstructure was observed by SEM. F…

The joining of hot rolled aerospace quality AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy (Mg, 2.5-3.5%Al, 0.7-1.3%Zn, 0.2-1.0%Mn) sheets (thickness 4.95 mm) was investigated using an MTS ISTIR friction stir welding (FSW) machine, the quality of the butt joints produce…

A brief review is presented of the state of development of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool materials for friction stir welding (FSW) of high-temperature materials (high alloy steels and Ni based alloys) with respect to weld penetrati…