TWI Digital Library

A review is presented of the progressive emergence of conceptual tools associated with friction stir welding (FSW) at the Marshall Space Flight Center, USA, from the discovery of the shear surface, wiping metal transfer and the invention of a kinema…

With regard to the fabrication of closure welds for used fuel containers, a series of experiments was undertaken to demonstrate the feasibility of creating defect-free partial penetration welds by friction stir welding (FSW) in A516 Grade 70 steel (…

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 thermal-pseudo-mechanical model, based on the use of material temperature-dependent yield stress as the driver for heat input, was proposed for heat generation in friction stir welding, and simulation results were compared with experimental temper…

A two-step modelling procedure, consisting of a thermo-fluid model and a thermo-mechanical model, was employed to predict temperature, flow and residual stress fields around the workpiece block, steel backing plate and tool in friction stir welding …

The application of suitable friction stir welding (FSW) tools and procedures to common structural geometries in industry, with emphasis of FSW of hard metals including steel, titanium and nickel based alloys in butt, T-joint, corner joint and circum…

An experimental investigation is presented into the fatigue properties of welded joints made by friction stir welding (FSW) of 2024-T4 (Al, 4.4%Cu, 0.6%Mn, 1.5%Mg) and 2014-T6 (Al, 4.5%Cu, 0.8%Mn, 0.5%Mg) aircraft alloys and their dependence on proc…

Extruded AZ31 (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn) alloy plates (thickness 6 mm) were joined by one-run or two-run friction stir welding (FSW) and the microstructure, mechanical properties and residual stress characteristics of the welded joints were investigated. FSW …

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…

The effects of friction stir welding (FSW) tool geometry on material flow during the welding of 4 mm aluminium alloys 2024-T51 and 6056-T4 were investigated. Welds were made using three different welding tool pins (conical non-threaded profile, coni…

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…

The mechanical properties and microstructures of friction stir butt welds in 6.4 mm and 12.7 mm thickness quenched and tempered martensitic steel plate were compared with those of GMA butt welds in the same parent metal. The friction stir welds in t…

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…

The use of friction stir welding, as an alternative to bolted or riveted joints, for the assembly of Airbus wings is discussed. Issues considered include: cost reduction, weight reduction, joint quality, and enhanced in-service performance. Potentia…

An experimental study was carried out to characterise the types of defect which may occur in friction stir welding (FSW) when operating outside the standard processing window and to determine the causes of these defects. Friction stir welds were mad…