TWI Digital Library

A feasibility study was undertaken to investigate the use of friction stir welding to join B4C particle reinforced Al metal matrix composite plates (thickness 8 mm) that form the neutron absorber tubes of the basket of a spent nuclear fuel cask. Wel…

Experiments were undertaken to investigate the evolution of welding forces and torque generated during robotic friction stir welding of circular and semicircular butt welds in 6082-T651 aluminium alloy plates (thickness 6 mm). Welding was performed …

Butt joints were fabricated between A6063 aluminium alloys and S45C mild steel by friction stir welding (FSW) and the effect of material flow on the weld interface formation was investigated using the stop action technique. FSW experiments were unde…

A combination of laser surfacing and friction stir processing (FSP) was employed to modify a cold-worked AISI D2 tool steel (1.5%C, 11%Cr, 0.83%Mo, 0.36%V) with the aim of clarifying the FSP conditions required to obtain a microstructure with unifor…

A new "stop action" technique was used to investigate material flow during the friction stir welding of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 plate of thickness 6.4 mm (0.25 in). The technique involved stopping the welding process and examining the microstructure…

In relation to the production of local metal matrix composites (MMCs) by friction stir processing (FSP), an investigation was undertaken into the influence of tool geometry and process parameters on the shape of the nugget zone and the assessment of…

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…

An experimental investigation was undertaken to study the effects of different pin profiles (threaded conical, square, pentagon and hexagon) and the same process parameters on temperature distribution around the tool and resulting microstructure dur…

With regard to the application of AA 2219 aluminium alloys to space launch vehicle propellant storage tanks, an investigation is presented into the influence of process parameters (tool rotational speed, shoulder downward force and weld transverse s…

A review is presented of the application of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) to numerical modelling of the friction stir welding (FSW) process, incorporating coupled physical phenomena such as heat generation, heat transfer and metal flow. Issues …

The effects of multiple overlapping friction stir weld runs (with 100% overlap) on the welding parameters and weld properties during the repair of high-strength AlCuMgZn alloy were investigated. Square butt welds were made in 7050-T7451 alloy (Al, 6…

A geometric feature, termed the "Wiper", was developed to improve the weld track surface finish produced by friction stir welding (FSW) and processing tools with scrolled shoulders, and experiments were undertaken to investigate the influence of "Wi…

A review is presented of the development programme to achieve a production-ready procedure to manufacture copper canisters for Swedish radioactive waste storage using friction stir welding (FSW) for encapsulation, incorporating adaptive thermal mana…

A discussion is presented on research studies carried out to develop friction stir welding (FSW) as a method for the production of thick (50.8-76.2 mm; 2-3 in) aluminium alloy 7050 tailored blanks suitable for use in the aerospace industry. Single r…

Two initiatives are presented to develop friction stir welding (FSW) and friction stir spot welding (FSSW) design data for the aerospace industry: a path independence initiative for FSW butt joints and qualification of FSSW welds for lap joints as i…

Thick section friction stir welds were made in 25.4 mm (1 in) 5083-H131 and in 18.4 mm 2195-T8P4 aluminium alloy plates by single-pass friction stir welding (FSW) using new welding tool designs. The alloys are used for aerospace applications. The sh…

An investigation was undertaken into the development and wear performance of friction stir welding (FSW) tools made from precipitation strengthened Ir-containing nickel-based superalloys (Ni, 25%Ir, 14%W, 4%Al) during FSW of Ti, 6%Al, 4%V alloys. Th…

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…

Thermodynamic modelling and experimental measurements were employed to investigate the influence of intermetallic compound formation on the shear strength of dissimilar joints between an aluminium alloy and ultra-high strength steel fabricated by fr…

The decision to use friction stir welding (FSW) in the manufacture of aluminium alloy car wheels by Simmons Wheels, Sydney, Australia is described. Rim sections are formed from alloy 6061 in thicknesses of 4-6 mm. These are attached to cast or forge…