TWI Digital Library

Friction stir welding experiments were undertaken on Ti-6%Al-4%V sheets (thickness 2 mm) in order to investigate the influence of process conditions on stir zone microstructure and local texture. Welding was performed at rotational speeds of 225-300…

A hybrid welding system called ultrasound supported friction stir welding was developed to mitigate the strength reducing effects of brittle intermetallic phase layers and was applied to the fabrication of dissimilar joints between wrought aluminium…

An experimental investigation was undertaken to examine how tool pin induced material flow and intermetallic growth conditions affect the formation of discontinuity during friction stir lap welding of dissimilar Al-Cu joints. The materials comprised…

An economic analysis was undertaken to compare the costs of onshore and offshore pipeline construction scenarios for welds made using friction stir welding (FSW) and conventional mechanised MIG/MAG welding. Pipe diameters of 1067 and 305 mm were sel…

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…

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…

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 …

The numerical simulation of the friction stir welding process using two different commercial finite element codes is described. FORGE3, which uses an updated Lagrangian approach, was used to simulate the plunge of the pin and the THERCAST package, w…

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 welded joints in aluminium alloy 6061-T6 sheet were produced using a robot arm, to assess the ability of the arm to withstand the mechanical stresses associated with friction stir welding. The arm was fitted with an electrically powere…

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 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…

Abrasion circle and modified refill friction stir spot welding (FSSW) techniques were employed to fabricate dissimilar joints between 6111-T4 (Al, 0.75%Mg, 0.69%Si, 0.75%Cu) and AZ31 (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn, 0.5%Mn) alloy sheets (thickness 0.9 mm) with the …

The microstructure, static and dynamic fatigue failure properties of friction stir spot welds in advanced high-strength steel were investigated. Welds were made in the overlap configuration in uncoated and galvanised dual-phase DP800 steel (1.25 mm …

Carbon nanotube reinforced AA 6063 aluminium alloy (Al, 0.65%Mg, 0.34%Si) metal matrix composite (MMC) sheets (thickness 1.8 mm) were joined by friction stir welding (FSW) and experimental studies were undertaken to examine the MMC weldability as we…

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…

The use of a full-length welding process to repair defective friction stir welded (FSW) butt joints in aerospace aluminium alloys was evaluated. Lack of penetration, offset and tunnel defects were investigated in AA6156-T6, AA2198-T8 and AA2024-T3 a…

Friction stir welding was employed to fabricate bead-on-plate welds on AA 6063 aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 5 mm) and dissimilar joints between AA 6063 and S45C carbon steel plates (thickness 6 mm), and the influence of weld shape on microstruc…

The microstructure, hardness, indentation profile, tensile strength, fracture cracking and grain boundaries of friction stir overlap welds in 2124 aerospace aluminium alloy were investigated. Welds were made in EN AW-2124 heat-treatable wrought AlCu…

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 …