TWI Digital Library

Kahn notched tear tests and fractography were employed to investigate variations in toughness and fracture mode across the weld zones in friction stir welded AA 7449 plates (thickness 40 mm) in the TAF (temper for age-forming) condition. Welding was…

A report is presented into the development of a refill friction stir spot welding (FSSW) robot system, performance evaluation with respect to FSSW of aircraft aluminium alloys, and fabrication of full-scale aircraft production components. The FSSW r…

Dissimilar butt joints between die-cast ADC12 aluminium alloy (Al, 11.53%Si, 2.02%Cu) and S45C carbon steel (0.46%C, 0.64%Mn, 0.12%Cu) were fabricated by friction stir welding and their static strength and fatigue properties were investigated. Weldi…

Sleeve plunge friction spot welding was employed to join AA5042 aluminium alloys under various process conditions and the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the welded joints were investigated. Welding was performed using a three-piece …

The friction stir weldability of the dissimilar materials copper and aluminium alloy was studied, assessing the effects of different process parameters (rotation and traverse speeds, rotation direction (Cu or Al on advancing side), displacement and …

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on type 304 austenitic stainless steel (18-20%Cr, 8-10.5%Ni) under various process conditions by changing the heat input, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints obtained at …

A methodology incorporating friction stir processing (for plasticising) and friction stir welding (for joining components) was developed to fabricate T-shaped copper conductor rails. Experiments were undertaken on copper plate specimens (thickness 8…

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…

AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets (thickness 3 mm) were joined by TIG welding and the effect of two run rapid cooling friction stir processing (RC-FSP) on welded joint microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. TIG welding was undertaken a…

The effect of process parameters during the plunge stage of friction stir welding were examined as part of the development of industrialised friction stir welding equipment. The effects of the tool plunging speed and the rotational speed on the maxi…

The results of a programme to establish self reacting friction stir welding for thin gauge (less than 3 mm) aluminium alloy applications are reported divided into the five major phases: tool development; joint evaluation; strength optimisation; prot…

Work from two projects is described: "Qualistir" for the on-line quality control of friction stir welding in aluminium (by ultrasonic phased array examination of butt welded Al 7075); and a TWI feasibility study on inspection of Al 5083 butt and lap…

The influences of the thermal and mechanical stresses experienced during friction stir welding on the structure of coarse-grained aluminium alloy 2519-T87 were investigated. Plate of 25 mm thickness was welded at a speed of 1.5 mm/s, using a tool sp…

A procedure has been developed for repairing welds made by friction stir welding (FSW) in cases where the tool breaks during welding. It involves the following stages: excavating the broken FSW tool, milling out a slot across the hole, machining an …

The quality of friction stir welds of butt joints (including the use of inserts to simulate compensation for poor fit up) between aluminium alloys 5083-H12 (Al, 4.6%Mg, 0.6%Mn, 0.3%Si) and 6082-T6 (Al, 0.7%Mg, 0.9%Si, 0.5%Mn), was evaluated. The wel…

Aluminium alloy fusion welds were modified by friction stir processing (FSP) as a function of FSP location and tool design, and differences between the FSP locations and tools were quantified by microstructure and mechanical property measurements (u…

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 …

The incorporation of strips of copper foil in friction stir welded aluminium alloy plate was evaluated for flow visualisation without disturbing the welding process. The strips, of 0.1 mm thickness, were placed in various longitudinal and transverse…

The design and construction of a prototype fixture and a corner fixture for making 90 degree corner joints in aluminium alloys by friction stir welding (FSW) are described. The requirements for a FSW weld fixture are outlined. The fixtures were test…

The friction stir welding of copper for the production of spent nuclear fuel storage disposal canisters was investigated. Initial trials were conducted on UNS-C10100 plate of 10 mm thickness. The high temperatures required the use of a sintered tung…