TWI Digital Library

The microstructure, mechanical properties and fatigue behaviour of friction stir welded (FSW) and MIG welded butt joints in aluminium alloy 2519-T87 (Al, 5.3-6.4%Cu, 0.1-0.5%Mn, 0.02-0.1%Ti) plate of 25.4 mm thickness were compared. Friction stir we…

The distortion, mechanical properties and microstructure of friction stir, submerged arc and GMA welds in HSLA-65 steel (0.09%C, 1.32-1.39%Mn, 0.01-0.06%Ni, 0.041-0.067%V, 0.03-0.035%Nb) and DH-36 steel (0.18%C, 0.90-1.60%Mn, 0.25%Cr, 0.40%Ni, 0.08%…

A description is presented on the friction stir welding (FSW) equipment developed for the joining of thin gauge complex-contour aluminium structures for the construction of the Eclipse 500 twin-engine jet aircraft. The design and capabilities of the…

The use of a new tool material, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), developed by Brigham Young University in association with Advanced Metal Products, for friction stir welding (FSW) high-temperature materials was investigated. The manufactu…

Friction stir welding tool developments to enhance the range of process applications, welding speed and quality are described. The scroll shoulder tool has a shoulder profile which moves surface material towards the probe. It improves surface qualit…

An investigation is presented into the effect of frictional heating on joint behaviour during friction stir welding (FSW) between aluminium alloy 6063 and mild steel S45C, the cross-section microstructure of the weld interface, and the welding mecha…

The friction stir welding of dissimilar aluminium alloys for the production of aircraft structural components was investigated. Welds were made between alloys 7040 and 7449 pre-aged to obtain a defined temper after post-weld ageing. Alloy 7040 was a…

The formability of friction stir welded aluminium alloy tailored welded blanks (TWBs), as used in the automotive industry, was analysed, based on hardening exponent and anisotropy values obtained from tensile tests (parallel and normal to loading di…

An experimental study was carried out on friction stir welded aluminium alloy tailored welded blanks (TWB's) to determine mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics in order to evaluate friction stir welding (FSW) as a feasible method…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was carried out on AZ31 magnesium alloy (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn) plates of thickness 6 mm in order to examine the relationship between weld microtexture and tensile properties. Orientation imaging microscopy was used to examine m…

The effects of friction stir welding (FSW) tool geometry on material flow during the welding of 4 mm aluminium alloys 2024-T51 and 6056-T4 were investigated. Welds were made using three different welding tool pins (conical non-threaded profile, coni…

The relationship between microstructure and properties in friction stir welding was studied. The effects of grain size, particle size and distribution, and dislocation density on weld strength in friction stir welds in work-hardenable Al alloy AA 52…

The mechanical properties and microstructures of friction stir butt welds in 6.4 mm and 12.7 mm thickness quenched and tempered martensitic steel plate were compared with those of GMA butt welds in the same parent metal. The friction stir welds in t…

A description is presented of the self reacting friction stir welding (SR-FSW) process and the specially designed welding head; results are reported from tests determining the mechanical properties of SR-FSW welds in AA-2219 and AA-2195 aluminium al…

The use of friction stir welding, as an alternative to bolted or riveted joints, for the assembly of Airbus wings is discussed. Issues considered include: cost reduction, weight reduction, joint quality, and enhanced in-service performance. Potentia…

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…

Ultrasonic immersion or laser ultrasonics combined with the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) and a pulsed eddy current technique were evaluated as NDE methods for the detection of defects specific to friction stir welding (FSW). Measurem…

A cathodic hydrogen charging method was employed to investigate hydrogen embrittlement in the parent metal and stir zones of friction stir welded SK4 high carbon steel (0.95%C, 0.42%Mn, 0.15%Cr) sheet specimens (thickness 2 mm). Welding was conducte…

With regard to the production of aluminium alloy T joints for stiffened panel construction by friction stir welding (FSW), an investigation is presented into the fabrication of FSW T joints with AA 6082-T6 alloys and the influence of welding paramet…