TWI Digital Library

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a relatively new technique which utilizes frictional heating combined with a forging pressure to produce virtually defect-free high strength bonds. Although considerable experimental work has been reported in the liter…

An finite element method (FEM) model, considering variables such as tensioning level, heat input and sheet geometry but ignoring mechanical tool effects, was developed to investigate the efficacy of the mechanical tensioning technique for controllin…

Results are presented from tests carried out to determine the mechanical and corrosion properties of friction stir welds in sheets of thickness 4 mm of two aerospace aluminium alloys AA-6056 and AA-6013. The specimens included alloys in the T6 condi…

An experimental study was carried out to characterise the types of defect which may occur in friction stir welding (FSW) when operating outside the standard processing window and to determine the causes of these defects. Friction stir welds were mad…

Friction stir welding developments, equipment, and applications for the joining of aluminium alloys, particularly for automotive applications, are reviewed. Body in white automotive applications include aluminium alloy tailor welded blanks and the m…

The effects of post weld heat treatments on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of friction stir welded dissimilar aluminium alloy joints (2024/6056) were studied. Sheets of 4 mm thickness were first joined in heat treatments T3 for 2…

Dissimilar joints between 2017A-T451 (Al, 4.14%Cu, 0.72%Mg, 0.68%Si) and AlSi9Mg (Al, 8.6%Si, 0.64%Fe, 0.34%Mn, 0.31%Mg) aluminium alloys were fabricated by a friction stir welding process featuring different rates of rotation of the pin and shoulde…

A review is presented of the growth in interest in friction stir welding (FSW) as measured by real industry applications and the distribution of related patent filings by time and geography, and case studies are reported to illustrate commonly occur…

Use of friction stir welding (FSW) to replace mechanical fastening in fabrication of an aircraft component in the ROCT Project (Rib One with Crux and Tees) is described. Design is shown of the part, which was assembled using four butt welds from wro…

The friction stir disc welding (FSDW) process was developed to facilitate the production of high quality root welds, and the joint formation mechanism and the influence of tool rotation direction on joint properties were investigated. The FSDW set-u…

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…

With regard to the dependence of welded joint properties on tool probe shape during friction stir welding (FSW) of dissimilar butt joints between aluminium and steel, an investigation was undertaken into the interface formation mechanism by conducti…

The effects of friction stir welding (FSW) parameters and tool geometry on the forces and torques generated during the FSW of four aluminium alloys were studied. The alloys were 6082-T6 (6.45 mm), 5083-H111 (6.55 mm), 2014-T6 (5.9 mm) and 7075-T7351…

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…

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on Cr-containing carbon steels (0.22%C, 0.5%Mn, 0-4%Cr) and the influence of Cr content on joint microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. FSW was conducted at a tool rotationa…

The tensile and fatigue strength of friction stir welds were determined for aluminium alloy 6082 in various temper conditions. Plate of 5.8 mm thickness, in both T6 and T4 conditions, was welded using a tool speed of 1000 rev/min and a welding speed…

The effects of friction stir welding process parameters (tool rotation speed and travel speed) on defects and mechanical properties in welds in aluminium alloys were investigated. Microstructural, macrostructural and mechanical properties of the wel…

Using a pin tool made from relatively low cost metallic materials, including heat resistant alloys (e.g. Ni-Cr) with or without surface treatment, suitable conditions were investigated for friction stir welding (FSW) of commercially pure (CP) titani…

The influence of tool geometry and process conditions on the lap shear strength, weld integrity and efficiency during friction stir spot welding of magnesium alloys for automotive applications was investigated. The macro- and microstructures and wel…