TWI

Friction stir welding (FSW) studies were undertaken to join sheet and plate specimens of aluminium alloys in a butt joint configuration, and design of experiments methods were employed to optimise process parameters with respect to weldment quality …

In relation to the application of tailor welded blanks of aluminium alloys to the vehicle weight reduction process, an investigation is presented into the precipitation sequence in friction stir welded 6016 alloy sheets (thickness 2 mm) during a pai…

A computational fluid dynamics code ("CosmosFlow") was employed to evaluate the temperature distribution in materials during friction stir welding (FSW). Thermal simulations based on finite element models were undertaken to predict the optimum ratio…

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) was performed on dual phase 800 high strength automotive steel (0.14%C, 0.23%Si, 1.52%Mn) to establish the effect of tool rotation speed (750-2400 rpm) for a number of weld cycles featuring different Z-axis plunge r…

Defect free welded joints were fabricated in 5083-O aluminium alloy (Al, 4.3%Mg, 0.65%Mn) plates (thickness 20 mm) by friction stir welding (FSW) and the influence of tool geometrical features on their microstructures and structure properties relati…

Controlled force monitored plug-in tests were undertaken to investigate the influence of rotational speed and to analyse flow regimes during friction stir welding (FSW) of different aluminium alloys. Experimental specimens comprised sheets (thicknes…

With regard to the application of friction stir welding (FSW) to the production of launcher tanks holding cryogenic liquids, an investigation was undertaken to establish a robust and industrialised FSW process for AA 2219 alloys in T87 and T851 cond…

Evaluation of phased array ultrasonic inspection for the detection of typical friction stir weld defects is reported. Characteristics of friction stir welds with respect to inspectability are described. Phased array operation is outlined. A variety …

Friction stir welding of aluminium alloys suitable for railway and shipbuilding applications was investigated. Sheet of 4 mm thickness of alloys 6N01-T5 (Al, 0.7%Mg, 0.6%Si, 0.1%Cu) and 5083-H112 (Al, 4.7%Mg) were friction stir welded, and the joint…

Fatigue crack growth in friction stir welded (FSW) aluminium alloys 2024-T3 and 6013-T6 were predicted using two commercial software programs, ESACRACK and AFGROW in order to facilitate lifetime predictions of FSW aircraft structures. The following …

Models to predict the precipitate and grain size evolution in AA7449 aluminium alloy friction stir welds are presented and compared with experimental data. Bead on plate welds on 3.2 mm thickness sheets of composition Al, 8.4%Zn, 2.1%Mg, 1.8%Cu were…

An investigation is presented into pore formation and grain growth in aluminium alloys during TIG welding after friction stir welding (FSW), for reasons of repair or fabrication, and into two methods to suppress these problems. The material studied …

The design, fabrication and evaluation of a portable friction stir welding (FSW) system for the in-situ field repair of aluminium structures to a depth of 6 mm is reported. The conceptual design of the FSW machine was produced using a dual-track app…

With regard to the need to control process temperature in friction stir welding to enhance process stability and weldment mechanical properties, a feedforward feedback control system was designed based on two nonlinear single input single output (SI…

The effects of rotation speed, welding speed and Z-axis force on process response variables (power, specific energy, torque, X-axis force) and properties (nugget hardness, strength and ductility, nugget grain size and HAZ hardness) of AA2524-T351 fr…

High alloy tool steel H13, silicon nitride(Si3N4) and tungsten carbide (WC) bonded with 10%Co cylindrical pin tools (12.5 mm diameter) were evaluated for the friction stir welding of aluminium alloy 6061 containing 20 wt% alumina by determining an e…

Experimental measurements and finite element modelling were undertaken to investigate the deposition of AA1050 commercially pure aluminium layers on AA 2024-T351 aluminium alloy substrates by friction surface cladding (FSC). Experiments were perform…

A round robin investigation was made to determine if defects found using the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques of ultrasonic phased array and x-ray inspection, can be identified by a real-time, feedback-based friction stir weld analysis to…

An investigation is presented into the fabrication of welded joints in high strength aluminium alloys by friction stir welding (FSW) and into the application of the technology for manufacturing lightweight aircraft structures. The materials consider…

Experimental measurements and finite element modelling were undertaken to investigate the deposition of AA1050 commercially pure aluminium layers on AA 2024-T351 aluminium alloy substrates by friction surface cladding (FSC). Experiments were perform…