TWI

The fine scale precipitation in the nugget zone and in the HAZ of a weld in aluminium alloy AA-6082 (Al, 0.7%Mg, 0.5%Mn, 0.9%Si) of thickness 5-10 mm made by friction stir welding (FSW) was examined using transmission electron microscopy. The dissol…

An indirect temperature measurement system was developed based on the acquisition of torque and process forces during friction stir welding (FSW) and a mathematical model incorporating a grey box approach was formulated to determine the correlation …

In relation to the industrialisation of the friction stir welding process to facilitate qualification of welding machines for different applications, a methodology is presented based on the interactions between tool, workpiece and material. Issues d…

Dissimilar joints between 6061-T4 aluminium alloy and S45C steel sheets (thickness 1.6 mm and 1 mm, respectively) were fabricated by the friction stir clinching technique using two types of tools and their mechanical properties and failure modes wer…

The microstructural evolution during FSW of beta-annealed plates of Ti-5111 (Ti, 5%Al, 1%Sn, 1%Zr, 1%V, 8%Mo) was investigated above and below the beta transus temperature. Variable penetration tools of a refractory-based material with different dim…

Low temperature friction stir welding (FSW) was employed to join three types of carbon steels and the effects of carbon content, process conditions and phase transformations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were i…

A phenomenologically based semiphysical modelling approach was employed to develop a process window for friction stir welding (FSW) of AA 2024-T3 aluminium alloy, incorporating simulation of the filling level of the welded joint as a means to determ…

A feasibility study is presented for the joining of mild steel plates (0.2%C, 0.11%Si, 0.63%Mn) of 12 mm in thickness by friction stir welding (FSW). Process optimisation using a combination of operating parameters and tool geometries is discussed, …

Several kinds of Co-based alloys with different mechanical properties (e.g. high temperature strength, hardness, wear resistance and gamma-solvus temperature) were designed for friction stir welding (FSW) tool applications by varying chemical compos…

The repair of friction stir weld defects in aluminium alloy 6061-T6 3 mm thickness sheet (Al, 0.683%Mg, 0.564%Si) by friction stir welding was investigated using artificial defects. The defects were created using an unsuitable pin profile, whilst re…

A refill friction stir spot welding technique was employed to fabricate joints in AA 2014 aluminium alloy (Al, 3.51%Cu, 0.7%Mn) sheets (thickness 2 mm) and the effect of tool rotational speed on microstructure and mechanical properties was investiga…

A friction stir welding tool with a variable length probe (suitable for variable thickness joints, repairs and circumferential welding) was developed and evaluated for the welding of aluminium alloy 2195. Tapered sheet, of both increasing and decrea…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was employed to fabricate a single overlap joint between sheet specimens (thickness 1.5 mm) of an AA 6181-T4 aluminium alloy and ZStE-340 high-strength steel, and weld phase composition, microstructure and mechanical prop…

The deformation behaviour and microstructural evolution of friction stir processed Zn, 22%Al rolled sheet (thickness 3 mm) were compared with those of the corresponding superplastic alloy. Friction stir processing was performed at a rotational speed…

Friction stir welding experiments between AA 6063 aluminium alloy and S45C carbon steel (thickness 6 mm) were performed, and the effects of heat input on the butt joint macrostructure (cavities formed at weld interface), hardness and plastic flow of…

The relationship between microstructure and properties in friction stir welding was studied. The effects of grain size, particle size and distribution, and dislocation density on weld strength in friction stir welds in work-hardenable Al alloy AA 52…

Numerical simulations and experimental tests were undertaken to visualise material flow and to study the effect of the flow field on the mixing mechanism and particle break-up in friction stir welding of metal matrix composites. A 3D thermo-fluid mo…

The microstructure and corrosion properties of welded joints in Inconel 22 (Alloy 22 or NO6022) made by friction stir welding (FSW) were investigated. Bead-on-plate welds were produced in Alloy 22 (59.6%Ni, 13.43%Mo, 0.22%Cr, 3.29%W, 3.17%Fe, 0.84%C…

An investigation is presented into a methodology for simulating the entire friction stir welding (FSW) process using a hybrid mesh free method on a graphics processing unit (GPU) and its implementation for different FSW applications such as butt joi…

Modelling tools were developed to describe the relationships between process parameters, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the weld in friction stir welding (FSW). Experiments were conducted using aluminium alloy 6056. Initial t…