TWI Digital Library

A short review is presented of the development of a friction stir welding process for steel and other hard metals using W-Re tool materials to produce repeatable, thick-section welds with minimal tool deformation. Issues discussed include: W, 25%Re …

A modified Gleeble hot torsion test was used to simulate the stir zone microstructures in types 304L and 310 stainless steels obtained during friction stir welding (FSW). A Gleeble 3800 with a torsion mobile conversion unit was used to perform the t…

Friction stir welded joints in 2024-T351 Al-Cu-Mg alloy were subjected to fatigue testing to evaluate the suitability of this welding process for aircraft manufacture. Aluminium alloy (Al, 3.8-4.9%Cu, 1.2-1.8%Cu, 0.5%Si, 0.5%Fe, 0.2%Zr) of 6.35 mm (…

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…

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…

In battery cell assembly, tab-to-busbar joint connections are usually done by welding incompatible metals such as Ni and Al. Micro friction stir welding is becoming increasingly popular as a joining method due to its solid-state nature. Nonetheless,…

Friction stir welding (FSW) of 2219-T6 aluminium alloys (Al, 6.48%Cu) was undertaken with the assistance of micro-plasma arc preheating, and welding efficiency as well as joint microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Longitudinal…

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…

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…

With the aim of overcoming the thickness limitations of conventional friction stir welding (FSW), a multilayer multirun FSW process was developed in which six layers of ASTM A516 G70 (0.18%C, 1.1%Mn, 0.08%Cr, 0.16%Ni, 0.04%Mo, 0.02%Ti, 0.03%Al, 0.32…

In relation to the application of friction stir welding (FSW) to the production of metallic aircraft fuselages, a report is presented into the evolution of the MUVAX (multi use vacuum assisted exoskeleton) concept within the framework of the LuFo V-…

The friction stir welding of chromium steel (12%Cr) and of the dissimilar combination of chromium steel with low carbon steel were investigated, and the process economics compared with those of MMA, MIG and submerged arc welding. Welds were made in …

Friction stir processing (FSP) experiments were undertaken on three Ni-based alloys (Alloy 625 (Ni, 21.6%Cr, 8.6%Mo, 3.7%Fe), Alloy 718 (Ni, 23.7%Fe, 18.1%Cr, 3.1%Mo, 1%Ti) and Hastelloy X (Ni, 21.3%Cr, 19.2%Fe, 8.3%Mo)) using a W-Re tool, process p…

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) experiments were undertaken on sheet specimens of similar and dissimilar combinations of AA 2024-T3 (thickness 1.27 mm), AA 2024-O (2.2 mm) and AA 7075-T6 (1.27 mm) aluminium alloys under various process conditions,…

The application of friction stir welding to the construction of airframe structures of precipitation-hardened aluminium alloys, using butt, lap and T-joints, is described. A landing gear strut door was manufactured by welding an Alclad 7075-T6 skin …

This study investigates the impact of process parameters on FSW of AISI 304 stainless steel hemispheres of various diameters without internal support. Optical microscopy was employed to investigate joint macrostructure, defect formation, and weld pe…

Friction stir welding trials, comprising double-sided butt welding of plates of thickness 10-11 mm, were conducted to investigate the weldability of copper and its alloys and to determine the correct process parameters (welding and rotation speeds) …

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…

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…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was employed to join partially recrystallised AA 5052 (Al, 2.3%Mg) sheet specimens (thickness 5 mm) and the relationship between microstructural development, mechanical properties and process parameters was investigated. …