TWI

Low temperature post weld ageing heat treatment, with and without deep cryogenic pretreatment, was applied to friction stir welded joints of 2024-T351 (Al, 4.3%Cu, 1.6%Mg, 0.7%Mn) alloys, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joint…

A conceptual model was developed to describe the relationship between process variables and physical properties such as spindle torque, heat generation and workpiece temperature distribution for friction stir welding of aluminium alloys. The materia…

SiC particles, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and C60 fullerene were dispersed in an AZ31 alloy matrix by friction stir processing (FSP) and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface composites were investigated. The FSP conditions …

The material flows of aluminium and steel during friction stir welding were visualised in three dimensions using x-ray transmission radiographic real-time imaging. The movement of a miniature spherical tungsten tracer during welding was visualised u…

With regard to the dependence of shoulder friction generation in bobbin friction stir welding on the interference (compression) between the substrate and the tool, an investigation was undertaken into the effects of different interference (compressi…

An experimental investigation was conducted into the friction stir welding (FSW) of 6 mm thickness aluminium alloy AA6082-T6 using welding conditions slightly outside the common process window. The microstructure, quality and fatigue strength of the…

A comprehensive microstructural investigation, incorporating SEM, TEM, STEM (scanning transmission electron microscopy) and EBSD (electron backscattering diffraction), was undertaken on PM 2000 (Fe, 20%Cr, 5.5%Al, 0.5%Ti, 0.5%Y2O3) ODS (oxide disper…

The design, fabrication and evaluation of a portable friction stir welding (FSW) system for the in-situ field repair of aluminium structures to a depth of 6 mm is reported. The conceptual design of the FSW machine was produced using a dual-track app…

A mobile friction stir welding (FSW) machine, comprising a self-contained truck with four wheels, was proposed for use when welding large structural members made from aluminium alloys and the concept was verified by welding trials using a prototype …

The development and experimental validation of a finite element model ("DEFORM-3D" software) for friction stir welding (FSW) of 7XXX series aluminium alloys (e.g. AA-7075) with varying pin angle and advancing speed are described, and application of …

An investigation is presented into the joint efficiency and tensile properties of welded joints in various structural aluminium alloys prepared by friction stir welding (FSW), looking at the effects of compositional differences in the parent metals …

A presentation is made of a successful demonstration of the friction stir welding (FSW) of steel capabilities in a shipyard production facility, summarising the equipment, fixturing and tooling requirements. HSLA-65 steel panels (17m x 2.4m), 6mm th…

A friction stir welding (FSW) process based on the use of a self-reacting pin tool (SRPT) was developed for the joining of solid and hollow extrusions for aluminium railway car body structures; the mechanical properties of welded joints were investi…

Butt joints were fabricated in AA 2219-T87 aluminium alloy panels (thickness 6.35 mm) by friction stir welding (FSW), and force data collected during welding were analysed using an unsupervised matched filter technique to classify weldment segments …

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate butt joints in Ti-6%Al-4%V sheets (thickness 2 mm) and the effect of process parameters on joint microstructure and plastic deformation behaviour was investigated. Welding experiments were conducted at…

An experimental investigation was undertaken into the preparation and mechanical properties of two candidate substitutes to MP 159 Ni-Co alloy as tool materials for friction stir welding of high strength aluminium alloys. The alloys studied were "Ae…

Butt joints were fabricated in AA 6061-T6 (Al, 0.8%Mg, 0.6%Si) and AA 6082-T6 (Al, 0.62%Mg, 0.99%Si, 0.49%Mn) plates (thickness 6 mm) by friction stir welding, and the tensile and fatigue properties of the weldments were investigated. The microstruc…

Dissimilar butt and lap joints between AA 5083-H111 or AA 6082-T6 aluminium alloys and copper were fabricated by friction stir welding and morphological, metallographic and structural analyses were undertaken on weldments made under a range of proce…

Optical microscopy, SEM and electron backscattering diffraction techniques were employed to investigate the microstructural evolution and solid-state phase transformations during friction stir spot welding (FSSW: also known as friction spot joining)…

The development of an industrialised robot for friction stir welding (FSW) for aluminium alloys is described. The influence of the main processing parameters, plunging and rotational speeds, on FSW performance and efficiency were investigated. The q…