TWI

Friction stir spot welding experiments were conducted on dissimilar metal joints between AA5052 aluminium alloy and three kinds of zinc coated steel, and weldability analysis, microstructure observations and mechanical tests were undertaken. The coa…

Technology improvements and process innovations in respect of friction stir welding (FSW) of high temperature materials are reviewed, welding process conditions and mechanical properties of completed welds for various alloys using polycrystalline cu…

As part of a project to develop a physical-mathematical model and software for thermal simulation of the friction stir welding (FSW) process, an initial version "FricSim2.2" was created and verified, using the software tool "SpotFSW" to convert the …

Friction stir spot welding experiments were undertaken on AZ31 magnesium alloy (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn, 0.2%Mn) sheets (thickness 2 mm) in order to investigate the influence of a flame spray gun rapid preheating process on the microstructures and mechanical…

Friction stir welds were made in 4 mm thick sheets of aluminium alloys 2024-T3 and 6013-T6. The stress intensity factor due to residual stresses was determined using the cut compliance method. The residual stress distribution was calculated using th…

A project to introduce friction stir welding for aluminium shipbuilding in Taiwan is described. The advantages of FSW compared with arc welding for this application are summarised. Stages of the project are outlined, covering work with local tool fa…

With regard to the application of friction stir welding (FSW) for the butt weld joining of aluminium alloy extrusions into large panels for ship decks and railway carriages, an investigation is presented into the employment of laser ultrasonic testi…

An instrumented constrained Charpy test was used to measure the fracture toughness of friction stir welded joints produced using several designs of welding tool in sheet aluminium alloys 6082 (4.7 mm) and 7108 (3.2, 5.0 mm). This test constrained pl…

An investigation is presented into the processing window for friction stir welding (FSW) of Formall 545 (equivalent to AA-5083) to age-hardened AA-6082 aluminium alloys with regard to tool rotation and traverse speeds, and into an evaluation of a nu…

An experimental study was conducted to measure the torque of friction stir welded cast aluminium A356 (Al, 7%Si, 0.3%Mg) over a range of travel and rotational speeds. Plates of 6.35 mm thickness were FSW using travel speeds and rotational speeds ran…

The bobbin tool or self-reacting tool variant of the friction stir welding process was investigated on butt joints of various 2000 series aluminium alloys for aircraft fuselage applications; welding feasibility tests were conducted in pin length con…

In order to study the relationship between material flow and the development of highly variant process forces during friction stir welding (FSW), a high sampling rate triaxial force measurement device and a high speed camera were employed to monitor…

Lap joints were fabricated in AA 7075-T6 aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 2 mm) using an ESAB "Rosio" friction stir welding (FSW) robot and the effect tool of side-tilt angle on welded joint tensile strength was investigated. A "CounterStir" FSW to…

Dissimilar welded joints between AW 6061-T6 aluminium alloy (Al, 0.93%Mg, 0.59%Si, 0.5%Fe) and AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy (Mg, 2.55%Al, 0.79%Zn) were fabricated by friction stir welding and the influence of process parameters on their microstructure …

A description is presented of the self reacting friction stir welding (SR-FSW) process and the specially designed welding head; results are reported from tests determining the mechanical properties of SR-FSW welds in AA-2219 and AA-2195 aluminium al…

A comparative study was undertaken of three different machine types, a modified high payload robot, a CNC milling machine and an ESAB "SuperStir" FSW machine, in terms of their capability for FSW of various aluminium alloys using identical process p…

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate welded joints in AA 7475-T7351 aluminium alloy plates (thickness 6.35 mm) and the effect of kissing bond defects on fatigue life and other mechanical properties was investigated. Welded test specimens …

A brief review is presented of the state of development of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool materials for friction stir welding (FSW) of high-temperature materials (high alloy steels and Ni based alloys) with respect to weld penetrati…

Dissimilar overlap joints between different aluminium alloys were fabricated by friction stir welding (FSW) and the influence of alloy composition and FSW tool type on fatigue fracture, microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The …

Friction stir welding (FSW) was investigated in aluminium alloys used in aircraft structures. Extruded shapes in alloys 2024 (Al, 4.96%Cu), 7475 (Al, 5.96%Zn, 2.57%Mg, 1.62%Cu) and 7050 (Al, 6.29%Zn, 2.36%Mg, 2.00%Cu) were welded; welds were evaluat…