TWI

Controlled force monitored plug-in tests were undertaken to investigate the influence of rotational speed and to analyse flow regimes during friction stir welding (FSW) of different aluminium alloys. Experimental specimens comprised sheets (thicknes…

A thermal model with a thermo pseudo mechanical (TPM) heat source was employed to investigate the influence of process parameters (rotational speed, feed rate and tool geometry) on the temperature profile at the interface of dissimilar metal lap joi…

AA 2219 aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 2.5 mm) were joined by friction stir welding (FSW) and an investigation was undertaken into the relationship between joint mechanical properties, the torque generated by the spindle motor and process variabl…

A kinematic approach is presented for modelling the friction stir welding process and the relationship between tool geometry and process parameters. The model was used to describe the correlation between features of the weld nugget, process paramete…

Vertical and angular truss extrusions made from 6082-T6 aluminium alloy (Al, 0.7-0.74%Mg, 1.04-1.14%Si, 0.53-0.54%Mn) were friction stir welded in a half-overlap configuration to fabricate panels for marine applications and their fatigue performance…

A cantilever type rotary bending fatigue testing machine with high speed loading capability was employed to investigate the high cycle fatigue properties of the stir zone, thermomechanically affected zone and HAZ in friction stir welded joints of va…

The development of a novel friction stir welding (FSW) monitoring for the in-process collection of tool force data is reported. The concept and features of this Advanced Rotating Tool Environment Monitoring and Information system (Artemis), based ar…

With regard to the development of a hybrid structure tool holder to facilitate chatter vibration suppression in metal cutting processes, an investigation was undertaken into the use of friction stir girth welding (FSGW) to fabricate dissimilar joint…

Microstructural observations and mechanical tests were undertaken to investigate the phase transformation behaviour of low alloy Cr-Mo steel (0.2%C, 0.61%Mn, 1.07%Cr, 0.16%Mo) sheets (thickness 1.6 mm) during friction stir welding. Stir-in-plate typ…

An investigation is presented into the processing window for friction stir welding (FSW) of Formall 545 (equivalent to AA-5083) to age-hardened AA-6082 aluminium alloys with regard to tool rotation and traverse speeds, and into an evaluation of a nu…

5083-O aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 3 mm) were butt welded using a gate-type friction stir welding (FSW) machine to investigate tolerance to deviations in butt-line/tool-travel line, gap spacing and tool roll angle, and the welded joints were e…

In relation to the application of tailor welded blanks of aluminium alloys to the vehicle weight reduction process, an investigation is presented into the precipitation sequence in friction stir welded 6016 alloy sheets (thickness 2 mm) during a pai…

An experimental study was conducted to measure the torque of friction stir welded cast aluminium A356 (Al, 7%Si, 0.3%Mg) over a range of travel and rotational speeds. Plates of 6.35 mm thickness were FSW using travel speeds and rotational speeds ran…

The weldability of zirconium-titanium alloy joints fabricated by means of friction stir welding (FSW) was investigated. Sheets (thickness 3 mm) of Zr-Ti alloy (Zr, 41%Ti, 4%Al, 3%V) underwent FSW with a tungsten-rhenium alloy (W, 25%Re) tool with an…

With regard to the development of Al-Mg-Sc alloys for aerospace applications, an investigation is presented into friction stir welding (FSW) of thick plates (thickness 35 mm) and thick-walled pipes made from 1570C alloy (Al, 5.7%Mg, 0.29%Mn, 0.2%Sc,…

Bead-on-plate welds were fabricated in S31254 superaustenitic stainless steel (19.82%Cr, 17.78%Ni, 6.13%Mo) plates (thickness 6 mm) using friction stir welding (FSW) and their microstructure and texture evolution were studied by high resolution elec…

Friction stir welding (FSW) experiments were undertaken on sheet specimens (thickness 4 mm) of AISI 304 stainless steel (17.5-19.5%Cr, 8-10.5%Ni) using different uncoated and coated tungsten and WC-based tools, and tool wear and failure mechanisms w…

A friction stir spot welding process variant was evaluated, which was intended to remove the hole left in the weld when the probe is removed, and consequently improve weld properties. In the two-step procedure, first a backing plate was used that ha…

Ultrasonic immersion or laser ultrasonics combined with the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) and a pulsed eddy current technique were evaluated as NDE methods for the detection of defects specific to friction stir welding (FSW). Measurem…

A cathodic hydrogen charging method was employed to investigate hydrogen embrittlement in the parent metal and stir zones of friction stir welded SK4 high carbon steel (0.95%C, 0.42%Mn, 0.15%Cr) sheet specimens (thickness 2 mm). Welding was conducte…