TWI Digital Library

A study was conducted to assess friction stir spot welding (FSSW), to identify and investigate the effects of the principal FSSW parameters and to investigate the effectiveness of common friction stir welding (FSW) tool designs when used for FSSW. A…

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of fusion welded aluminium alloys. MIG welds in plates of thickness 6 mm of 5083-H321 aluminium alloy (…

Thermocouples were mounted in a friction stir welding (FSW) tool to measure its temperature during the FSW of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 (Al, 1.0%Mg, 0.61%Si, 0.27%Cu, 0.10%Mn) sheet of 3 mm thickness. Type K thermocouples were mounted at various dista…

Friction stir welds in S355 carbon manganese steel plate of 12 mm thickness were characterised by microstructural studies and measurements of mechanical properties. A tungsten-rhenium alloy tool with a pin length of 7.5 mm was used, running at 400 r…

The viability of robotic friction stir welding (FSW) has been enhanced by the development of robots with payloads up to 500 kg, with enhanced arm stiffness and improved force control capability. A robot welding system is described which has features…

4th International Symposium, 14-16 May 2003, Session 5A: Aerospace 2, Paper 01

Details are reported of application of friction stir welding (FSW) to manufacture of double skin bodies of railway carriages for commuter lines in Japan. A "defect free" FSW process is used to weld double skin panels of length 25 m using hollow extr…

3rd International Symposium, 27-28 Sep 2001, Poster Session, Paper 13

Development work by TWI on behalf of the Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co. for the EB and friction stir welding of lids onto Cu radioactive waste disposal canisters (1050 mm diameter, 50 mm wall thickness) is reviewed. In 1986, when th…

Friction stir welding was evaluated as a cheaper alternative to the use of fasteners for the joining of lap joints of the aluminium alloy 7075-T351 motor thrust frame of the Ariane 5 rocket. In initial trials to optimise the tool design for lap join…

The use of phased array ultrasonics for the detection of small defects in welds is described, and illustrated using a series of examples of friction stir welded aluminium alloy plate. Phased arrays use an array of ultrasonic elements pulsed with dif…

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were conducted on X52 and X60 pipeline steel specimens (outer diameter 324 mm, wall thickness 6.35 mm) and weldment integrity was evaluated by metallography, NDE and mechanical properties characterisation. Wel…

The principles are presented of stationary shoulder friction stir welding (FSW) with examples of the weld microstructures that can be achieved. Trials were conducted on 6.35 mm plate of Ti-6%Al-4%V titanium alloy, with spindle speed of 400 rpm and t…

A friction stir spot welding process was employed to fabricate dissimilar joints between 6016 aluminium alloy (Al, 1-1.5%Si, 0.25-0.6%Mg) and galvanised HSLA 280 phosphorus-hardened cold rolled steel (0.08%C, 1.3%Mn, 0.1%Ti, 0.08%Al, 0.09%P), and th…

A series of friction stir welding (FSW) experiments using threaded tool pins and AA5083 (Al, 4.5%Mg, 0.6%Mn) or A356 (Al, 7%Si, 0.3%Mg) workpiece alloys was undertaken in order to understand material flow mode within thread spaces and its influence …

With regard to the development of friction stir welding (FSW) processes for joining large thin walled 3D structures in aircraft fuselage applications, an investigation is presented into the "LuFo IV" machine concept, incorporating clamping, position…

Friction stir welding trials were undertaken on AA 7075-T7351 aluminium alloy plates (thickness 9.525 mm) to investigate the influence of backing plate characteristics on heat input and cooling rate. Experiments were performed on an MTI RM2 friction…

Two friction stir welding (FSW) procedures, a sacrificial anvil method and a hybrid FSW/arc welding technique, were developed to assure consistent full penetration welds during the construction of offshore and onshore pipelines, respectively. The of…

A hybrid friction stir welding (FSW) technique, comprising FSW and a YAG laser (power 2 kW) for preheating ahead of the tool, was developed to decrease tool load and defects. An SS 400 ferrite-pearlite carbon steel (0.16%C, 0.01%Si, 0.49%Mn) was wel…

Butt joints were fabricated by friction stir welding (FSW) in 4340 steel (0.43%C, 0.69%Mn, 0.76%Cr, 1.76%Ni, 0.24%Mo, 0.43%V, 0.16%Cu) and between 4340 steel and Inconel 718 (Ni, 17-21%Cr, 4.7-5.5%Nb, 2.8-3.3%Mo) and their microstructure and mechani…