TWI Digital Library

A friction stir welding (FSW) procedure, incorporating the use of different tool pins in combination with concave or scroll type shoulders, was employed to join various aluminium alloys; material flow was investigated with the aid of computer micro-…

With regard to the development of the stationary shoulder friction stir welding (FSW) technique as a long term loading joining process offering enhanced weld seam mechanical properties, an investigation is presented into coordinated material flow be…

Modelling tools were developed to describe the relationships between process parameters, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the weld in friction stir welding (FSW). Experiments were conducted using aluminium alloy 6056. Initial t…

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods were used to model the metal flow in the friction stir welding (FSW) process in order to optimise the pin profile to minimise the traversing force; welding experiments were carried out to validate the findi…

Friction stir welding (FSW) was investigated in aluminium alloys used in aircraft structures. Extruded shapes in alloys 2024 (Al, 4.96%Cu), 7475 (Al, 5.96%Zn, 2.57%Mg, 1.62%Cu) and 7050 (Al, 6.29%Zn, 2.36%Mg, 2.00%Cu) were welded; welds were evaluat…

The influence of friction stir welding on the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminium alloy 6061 was investigated. Aluminium alloy 6061-T651 plate of 6.4 mm (0.25 in) thickness was friction stir welded and the joints characterised by o…

The feasibility of using friction stir welding (FSW) in the construction of an aircraft central wing box from butt-welded extrusions was evaluated. An FSW procedure for welding 7055 T77511 and 7349 T6511 10 mm thickness extrusions was developed by T…

The design, construction and use of a purpose-built friction stir welding machine for the welding of 15.9 mm (0.625 in) thickness, 1.88 m (74 in) long aluminium alloy 6061-T6 plate and extruded sections to form the side panels of a laser system is d…

A softening model was constructed for friction stir welding (FSW) of 2xxx series aluminium alloys and was combined with previously derived thermal cycle modelling work. A thermal model of energy input and heat conduction was used to calculate therma…

The feasibility of friction stir welding TIMETAL 21S beta titanium in the annealed condition was investigated. The composition of the alloy is Ti, 14-16%Mo, 2.4-3.2%Nb, 2.5-3.5%Al, 0.15-0.25%Si, max.0.4%Fe, 0.11-0.17%O, max.0.05%C, max.0.05%N, max.0…

In order to develop a method for microjoining by friction stir welding (FSW), micro-FSW trials were conducted on Mg alloy AZ31 (2.97%Al, 0.83%Zn) thin sheets (0.4 mm thickness), and the welding performance was assessed. The micro-FSW system incorpor…

A three-dimensional thermomechanical model of the friction stir welding of aluminium alloy was developed, based on the finite element method, to predict temperature and stress distributions in the workpiece, residual stresses, and the stresses exper…

The design of a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride friction stir welding tool, tool holder and machine for use with high melting temperature materials is described. A polycrystalline cubic boron nitride truncated cone tool tip, capable of working a…

Friction stir welds were made in 4 mm thick sheets of aluminium alloys 2024-T3 and 6013-T6. The stress intensity factor due to residual stresses was determined using the cut compliance method. The residual stress distribution was calculated using th…

Microstructural examination and a root bend test were used to examine the results of friction stir welding in dissimilar welds of aluminium alloys A-5083 (Al, 4.5%Mg) and A-6N01 (Al, 0.6%Mg, 0.65%Si) of thickness 4 mm. Optimum welding parameters (to…

A report is presented into the friction stir welding (FSW) fabrication of an aluminium deck for a pedestrian bridge over the Petite Decharge river (Alma, Quebec, Canada), incorporating the design and manufacturing of extrusions, FSW tools and a syst…

The non-destructive testing (NDT) aspects of the Qualistir project for the on-line quality control of friction stir welding in aluminium are described. Definitions are given for the following defects: voids, wormholes, lack of penetration, faying su…

The development of three-dimensional column-type friction stir welding (FSW) equipment for robotic FSW of joints with complex shapes is described. The process requires a large force and precision control for tool penetration. The specification of th…

The influence of pores and residual stresses on fatigue crack propagation was studied for friction stir welded joints in aluminium alloys 2024-T3 and 6013-T6 of thickness 4 mm. Good welds and pore-containing welds were produced using tools with and …

The relationship between microstructure and properties, and the influence of microstructure on the fracture toughness of friction stir welded aluminium alloys with weld zone strength undermatching were investigated. Welds were made in 5005-H14, 2024…