TWI Digital Library

The material flows of aluminium and steel during friction stir welding were visualised in three dimensions using x-ray transmission radiographic real-time imaging. The movement of a miniature spherical tungsten tracer during welding was visualised u…

The development and experimental validation of a finite element model ("DEFORM-3D" software) for friction stir welding (FSW) of 7XXX series aluminium alloys (e.g. AA-7075) with varying pin angle and advancing speed are described, and application of …

Friction stir welds were made in the austenitic stainless steels 304L (thickness 6.4 mm (0.25 in) and 3.2 mm (0.125 in)) and the superaustenitic stainless steel AL 6XN. Welds in the 3.2 mm sheet were made in a single pass. The 6.4 mm plates were wel…

An experimental investigation was conducted into the friction stir welding (FSW) of 6 mm thickness aluminium alloy AA6082-T6 using welding conditions slightly outside the common process window. The microstructure, quality and fatigue strength of the…

A mobile friction stir welding (FSW) machine, comprising a self-contained truck with four wheels, was proposed for use when welding large structural members made from aluminium alloys and the concept was verified by welding trials using a prototype …

The design, fabrication and evaluation of a portable friction stir welding (FSW) system for the in-situ field repair of aluminium structures to a depth of 6 mm is reported. The conceptual design of the FSW machine was produced using a dual-track app…

SiC particles, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and C60 fullerene were dispersed in an AZ31 alloy matrix by friction stir processing (FSP) and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface composites were investigated. The FSP conditions …

The microstructure and mechanical properties of double-sided welds made by friction stir welding (FSW) in aluminium alloy AA-5083 were investigated as part of research into the use of the alloy in vessels for storing liquid hydrogen at cryogenic tem…

A friction stir channelling process to promote a distinct material flow was developed, in which a controlled amount of viscoplasticised material from the metal workpiece flows out from the processed zone producing an internal channel without any gap…

Similar and dissimilar T-joints were made by friction stir welding (FSW) of 3 mm thickness 2024-T3 cover sheet combined with 2.5 mm thick stiffeners consisting of either 2024-T3 or 2098-T8 (stringer) material. During welding the pin penetrated the s…

The ScanStir framework, comprising an experimental friction stir welding (FSW) set-up, numerical models based on open source finite element method software packages, and a high performance computer, was used to simulate the residual stress profile i…

Microstructure observations and bending tests were employed to investigate the basal plane texture and room temperature formability of AZ31 magnesium alloy rolled and extruded sheets (thickness 3 mm) treated by friction stir processing (FSP). Overla…

The development of robots, tools and control systems for three-dimensional friction stir welding of aluminium alloy plate up to 10 mm thickness is described. Robots have been developed with a triangulated arm construction, which provides the necessa…

The material flow and microstructural evolution during friction stir processing of A356 cast alloy (Al, 7%Si, 0.3%Mg, 6.4 mm thickness) using tools of H13 tool steel were investigated. The deformation and microstructure in the stir zone were studied…

A simplified finite element modelling approach was employed to analyse the effect of localised dynamic cooling on residual stress development during friction stir welding (FSW), and the model predictions were compared with x-ray synchrotron and neut…

Shipbuilding applications of friction stir welding in the production of prefabricated aluminium alloy sections are described. Panels of up to 13 x 16 m, thickness 3-7 mm, may be produced with close tolerances and good surface finish, reducing cost a…

The effects of stir rod angle (0-3 degrees), rotation speed (500-2500 rpm) and travel speed (1-8 mm/s) on metal flow in friction stir welds in pure aluminium (A-1100) and an Al-0.5%Mg alloy (A-5005) were studied. The microstructure, hardness and ten…

The influence of welding tool design on the microstructure of the interface and friction stir spot welded joint between aluminium alloy and low carbon steel was investigated. Two types of welding tool were evaluated: a tool comprising a probe and sh…

An analysis procedure was developed to relate the geometry and microstructure of lap configuration friction spot welds to the joints' mechanical behaviour. Using 2 mm thickness aluminium alloy AA 2024-T3 sheet as the basis for simulation, a three-di…

Samples of AA 2219 aluminium alloy (Al, 5.8-6.8%Cu, 0.2-0.4%Mn) produced by electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3), a wire fed process for additive manufacturing, were joined by friction stir welding (FSW) and the microstructure and mechanical pr…