TWI Digital Library

The friction stir welding (FSW) process was determined for stiffener to skin lap joints of different aluminium alloys (similar 2024 T3, similar 2139 T3 and T8, dissimilar PA 765 T79 extrusion on 2139 T8 skin) and FSW procedures with retractable pin …

A model which considers heat transfer to both tool and workpiece was developed to predict temperature distributions for the friction stir welding (FSW) process. The model assumes a cylindrical pin generating heat at the interface by friction, and th…

Experiments were conducted to compare heat input and weld hardness in friction stir welding (FSW) and MIG welding of aluminium alloy. Material A-6N01-T5 (Al, 0.8%Mg, 0.6%Si) of thickness 4 mm was used. The heat inputs were measured by calorimetry. H…

Orientation imaging microscopy was employed to characterise the stir zone microstructure in relation to the defect formation tendency and evaluate the peak temperature at different locations in friction stir welded Ti-6%Al-4%V specimens. Welded join…

The Skew-Stir™ variant of friction stir welding (FSW), in which the axis of the tool is at an angle to that of the machine spindle, is described. The technique provides an improved path for metal to flow around the tool during welding, resulti…

A fully coupled thermomechanical formulation was proposed for the numerical modelling of friction stir welding (FSW) to facilitate the efficient simulation of different types of material flows and accurate computation of the resulting thermomechanic…

Welded joints were fabricated in AZ31 magnesium alloy (Mg, 3.01%Al, 0.9%Zn, 0.5%Mn) sheets (thickness 2 mm) by bobbin tool friction stir welding (BTFSW) and the influence of process parameters (rotational and welding speeds) on their microstructure …

The feasibility of friction stir welding (FSW) for welding aluminium alloy 7020, used for the construction of light armoured fighting vehicles, was investigated and compared with MIG welding. Two joint configurations were tested: butt welding in 100…

Finite element models of the friction stir welding of aluminium alloys are reviewed and the results compared with experimental measurements. Contact between the pin and the workpiece is considered in two ways: frictional contact; or assuming the mat…

The feasibility of short-cycle friction stir spot welding for joining thin sheet aluminium alloys and steels, both galvanised and ungalvanised, was evaluated. Welds were made between 6111-T4 AlMgSi alloy (Al, 0.75%Cu, 0.25%Fe, 0.75%Mg, 0.2%Mn, 0.69%…

With regard to the capability of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) to improve weld formation quality as well as the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints, experiments were undertaken to clarify the …

Different aluminium alloys were joined by friction stir welding (EN AW-5754-H14 to sheets of the same material, extruded profile EN AW-6063-T6 sheets to high pressure die cast EN AC-46000) and characterised by x-ray and microscopy studies, and the m…

The weldability of magnesium alloys by friction stir welding was studied using three die-cast alloys of thickness 6 mm (AM50 and AM60 Mg-Al-Mn alloys; AZ91 Mg-Al-Zn alloy) and one wrought alloy of thickness 6.4 mm (AZ231 Mg-Al-Zn alloy). Surface app…

Two abutting plates (thickness 6 mm) of Al 6061-T6 and cold rolled AISI 1018 mild steel were friction stir welded along the butt joint with the steel and aluminium, respectively, on advancing and retreating sides, and the relationship between proces…

In relation to the industrialisation of the friction stir welding process to facilitate qualification of welding machines for different applications, a methodology is presented based on the interactions between tool, workpiece and material. Issues d…

An indirect temperature measurement system was developed based on the acquisition of torque and process forces during friction stir welding (FSW) and a mathematical model incorporating a grey box approach was formulated to determine the correlation …

A report is presented into the "RoboFSW" project, intended to qualify a high payload articulated arm robot for friction stir welding (FSW); hardware modification and control system integration are described and 3D FSW capability is reported for circ…

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate bead-on-plate welds on AA 6063 aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 5 mm) and dissimilar joints between AA 6063 and S45C carbon steel plates (thickness 6 mm), and the influence of weld shape on microstruc…

The use of a full-length welding process to repair defective friction stir welded (FSW) butt joints in aerospace aluminium alloys was evaluated. Lack of penetration, offset and tunnel defects were investigated in AA6156-T6, AA2198-T8 and AA2024-T3 a…

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate welded joints in Ni-free 18%Cr, 2%Mo, 0.85%N austenitic steel sheets (thickness 3 mm) and the gradient characteristics of the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated along transvers…