TWI Digital Library

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…

Friction stir welding (FSW) is discussed in manufacture of a sports car body made largely of aluminium alloy sheet with some components of cast aluminium or extruded aluminium, and the only steel used is the frame for the windscreen. Advantages are …

The application of friction stir welding (FSW) to the fabrication of copper backing plates of thickness 6 mm was investigated. The welding conditions, FSW machine development, and mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction stir welded joint…

Following a brief overview of the state of the art and applications for FSW of aluminium and Al alloys, experience and activities with this process at TWI Ltd (UK) are introduced. Principles, advantages and applications are presented of some process…

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…

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…

Tensile tests, computed tomography and documentation of process forces were employed to investigate the weldability of 1.4310 austenitic stainless steel reinforced extruded AW-6060 alloy (Al, 0.35-0.6%Mg, 0.6%Si) by friction stir welding, and the re…

Two abutting plates (thickness 6 mm) of Al 6061-T6 and cold rolled AISI 1018 mild steel were friction stir welded along the butt joint with the steel and aluminium, respectively, on advancing and retreating sides, and the relationship between proces…

The feasibility of friction stir welding steels was investigated using mild (low-carbon) steel plate (AISI-1010) of 6.4 mm (0.25 in) thickness. Temperature distributions were predicted using a simple thermal model. Tool wear was assessed by determin…

The weldability of magnesium alloys by friction stir welding was studied using three die-cast alloys of thickness 6 mm (AM50 and AM60 Mg-Al-Mn alloys; AZ91 Mg-Al-Zn alloy) and one wrought alloy of thickness 6.4 mm (AZ231 Mg-Al-Zn alloy). Surface app…

The feasibility of short-cycle friction stir spot welding for joining thin sheet aluminium alloys and steels, both galvanised and ungalvanised, was evaluated. Welds were made between 6111-T4 AlMgSi alloy (Al, 0.75%Cu, 0.25%Fe, 0.75%Mg, 0.2%Mn, 0.69%…

Different aluminium alloys were joined by friction stir welding (EN AW-5754-H14 to sheets of the same material, extruded profile EN AW-6063-T6 sheets to high pressure die cast EN AC-46000) and characterised by x-ray and microscopy studies, and the m…

Based on lessons learned from the MegaStir research programme devoted to friction stir welding (FSW) of high temperature alloys and with the aim of producing high quality, defect free welded joints while maximising tool life, a report is presented i…

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining method, being well-known to be suitable particularly in joining of aluminum in all alloy and manufacturing forms. The technological advantages of FSW can be also expanded to high-strength steel ma…

The forces exerted on the pin of a friction stir welding tool with a variable length pin (retractable pin-tool) were measured whilst welding aluminium alloy 2195 plate of 8.4 mm thickness, to develop a closed loop control system. Forces were measure…

A method investigated by Sweden for storage of nuclear waste in copper canisters sealed using friction stir welding (where EB welding has been used before) is described. Topics include: Nimonic 105 and Densimet sintered tungsten alloy tool; welding …

With regard to the occurrence of residual oxide defects associated with friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys, an investigation is presented into a possible alternative mechanism for oxide formation within the weld nugget involving enhance…

Extruded AZ31 (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn) alloy plates (thickness 6 mm) were joined by one-run or two-run friction stir welding (FSW) and the microstructure, mechanical properties and residual stress characteristics of the welded joints were investigated. FSW …

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on commercially pure titanium and Ti, 6%Al, 4%V alloy sheets (thickness 1.2 and 1.25 mm, respectively), the microstructure of the weldments was examined and the wear mechanisms of the welding t…

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 …