TWI Digital Library

Square butt welds of AA 7075-T6 sheet (thickness 1.3 or 3.2 mm) to AA 7075-T6 extrusions were fabricated by friction stir welding (FSW) procedures incorporating the controlled introduction of defects, and the impact of the defects on joint mechanica…

To assess the feasibility of friction stir welding of Ti-6Al-4V alloy (thickness 5 mm), appropriate pin tool material and processing parameters were determined, thermal and environmental management systems were tested, and both A- and B-basis design…

Two 3D numerical simulation models were employed to investigate the relationship between forces and torques during high-speed friction stir welding (FSW) with respect to mechanistic defect development owing to process parameter variations, and the t…

A friction stir welding (FSW) methodology, incorporating Taguchi quality engineering to optimise process parameters, was developed to fabricate a cold plate consisting of copper pipe embedded in the machined groove of a 6061 aluminium alloy base pla…

An investigation is presented into the use of temperature control in two friction stir welding (FSW) research projects: to understand the effect of backing plate conductivity on process parameters and to study the influence of active FSW tool coolin…

In relation to the development of corrosion barrier capsules for spent nuclear fuel disposal, friction stir welding experiments were conducted on oxygen-free copper plate specimens (thickness 20 mm) using different joint preparation, shielding gas a…

The feasibility of friction stir welding (FSW) for welding aluminium alloy 7020, used for the construction of light armoured fighting vehicles, was investigated and compared with MIG welding. Two joint configurations were tested: butt welding in 100…

A model which considers heat transfer to both tool and workpiece was developed to predict temperature distributions for the friction stir welding (FSW) process. The model assumes a cylindrical pin generating heat at the interface by friction, and th…

Different aluminium alloys were joined by friction stir welding (EN AW-5754-H14 to sheets of the same material, extruded profile EN AW-6063-T6 sheets to high pressure die cast EN AC-46000) and characterised by x-ray and microscopy studies, and the m…

The weldability of magnesium alloys by friction stir welding was studied using three die-cast alloys of thickness 6 mm (AM50 and AM60 Mg-Al-Mn alloys; AZ91 Mg-Al-Zn alloy) and one wrought alloy of thickness 6.4 mm (AZ231 Mg-Al-Zn alloy). Surface app…

Finite element models of the friction stir welding of aluminium alloys are reviewed and the results compared with experimental measurements. Contact between the pin and the workpiece is considered in two ways: frictional contact; or assuming the mat…

Experiments were conducted to compare heat input and weld hardness in friction stir welding (FSW) and MIG welding of aluminium alloy. Material A-6N01-T5 (Al, 0.8%Mg, 0.6%Si) of thickness 4 mm was used. The heat inputs were measured by calorimetry. H…

The Skew-Stir™ variant of friction stir welding (FSW), in which the axis of the tool is at an angle to that of the machine spindle, is described. The technique provides an improved path for metal to flow around the tool during welding, resulti…

Fatigue crack initiation and propagation was studied in friction stir welded aluminium alloy 7010-T7651 and also in the parent alloy, using a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques. Finite element analysis was used to model the stres…

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, …

A thermomechanical finite element model of the friction stir welding process, which considered temperature distributions in the workpiece and tool loadings, was developed and validated by comparing the model simulations with experimental data for th…

A discussion is presented on the industrial use of the friction stir welding (FSW) process looking at cost issues and technological developments. The cost implications of introducing FSW into production areas and the calculation of returns on invest…

The feasibility of friction stir welding steels was investigated using mild (low-carbon) steel plate (AISI-1010) of 6.4 mm (0.25 in) thickness. Temperature distributions were predicted using a simple thermal model. Tool wear was assessed by determin…

Microstructural evolution in friction stir welded commercially pure aluminium 1100-O plate was investigated. Plate of thickness 6.35 mm (0.25 in) was welded using rotational speeds of 700 and 1200 rpm, and welding speeds of 180 and 580 mm/min. The m…

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were conducted on magnesium alloys, wrought AZ31 (Mg, 3%Al, 1%Zn) and cast AZ91 (Mg, 9%Al, 0.6%Zn), to investigate the effect of process conditions on microstructure and hardness. Welding was performed at rota…