TWI

Some numerical and experimental results are presented to illustrate the ability of the SignaStir laser ultrasonic testing system to monitor the occurrence of voids, cavities and lack of root penetration defects during friction stir welding (FSW). A …

The corrosion behaviors of friction stir welded (FSW) joint of 7075 aluminum alloy with and without shot peening treatment (SPT) were investigated by method of acid salt spray. The macroscopical and microscopical corrosion features were observed by …

A device was designed and manufactured to facilitate accurate monitoring of forces, torque and tool temperature during friction stir welding (FSW) and for use as a weld quality indicator in relation to issues such as tool wear, lack of tool penetrat…

Following a summary of the current applications for friction stir welding at Boeing, the Brotje Automation FSW system is introduced. Presentation slides give notes on complex contour FSW in a large work envelope, the characteristics of a robust prod…

Dissimilar joints between AA 6061 aluminium alloy (Al, 0.91%Mg, 0.52%Si, 0.6%Fe) sheets (thickness 2 mm) and zinc-coated HIF-GA (high strength interstitial-free galvannealed) steel (0.002%C, 0.09%Si, 0.47%Mn) sheets (thickness 1 mm) were fabricated …

The large load friction stir spot welding (LL-FSSW) technique was applied to a low carbon steel sheet in order to achieve lap joints at a low temperature, and the microstructure and hardness of the joints were investigated. The composition of the gr…

In the last fifteen years, friction stir welding has developed from a laboratory curiosity to an important fabrication technique for lightweight, lower softening temperature alloys. Industrial implementation of joining magnesium has been limited alm…

A modified Gleeble hot torsion test was used to simulate the stir zone microstructures in types 304L and 310 stainless steels obtained during friction stir welding (FSW). A Gleeble 3800 with a torsion mobile conversion unit was used to perform the t…

A simultaneous double sided corner Ad-Stir fillet stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) process was developed for LNG (liquefied natural gas) storage tank construction. The microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints were i…

Based on the hypothesis that uniform friction stir weld quality can be produced by maintaining a constant weld zone temperature, an investigation was conducted to develop a feedback strategy and a closed-loop control algorithm to maintain constant t…

With regard to the need for in-process subsurface defect monitoring during friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys, an investigation is presented into a real-time force measurement system of process output to sense defect formation. Issues d…

An experimental investigation was made on the effect of processing variables and tool material on the microstructure of friction stir welded (FSW) 6 mm thick HSLA-65 steel plate, with the aim of optimising the process variables for enhanced mechanic…

A two-run friction stir welding process was employed to fabricate butt joints in API 5L X80 pipeline steel (0.08%C, 1.86%Mn, 0.16%Cr, 0.01%Ni, 0.18%Mo, 0.03%V, 0.06%Nb) plates (thickness 12 mm) and fracture toughness was determined in the parent met…

With regard to the development of aluminium military vehicles, a report is presented into production level single run friction stir welding (FSW) process parameters for thick plate samples (thickness 12.7-40.6 mm) of 5083, 5059 and 2139 aluminium al…

Friction stir welding experiments were undertaken on commercial SPF (superplastic forming) AA 5083-H19 (Al, 4.43%Mg) and AA 2004 (Al, 6.05%Cu) aluminium alloys, and the effects of tool size, geometry and primary process variables on microstructure a…

Analytical modelling and experimental measurements were undertaken to investigate a dual-loop temperature control algorithm for friction stir processing, incorporating an inner loop to maintain constant power and an outer loop to set the power based…

Dissimilar lap joints between AlSi10MgMn aluminium alloy sheets (thickness 3 mm) and Al-Si coated Usibor 1500 22MnB5 hot stamped boron steel sheets (thickness 1.8 mm) were fabricated by friction stir spot welding (FSSW) under different processing co…

A review is presented of process development work undertaken with regard to a machine concept assessment and the realisation of a fully 3D-capable 5-axis parallel kinematic friction stir welding machine, a so-called pentapod, suitable for large and …

Butt welding experiments were undertaken to investigate the feasibility of joining a metal matrix composite (MMC), comprising an Al-10%Si matrix and 20 vol.% SiC particles, to an AA-6063-T5 alloy by friction stir welding (FSW). Optimum process param…

An experimental investigation is presented into the precipitation and hardening mechanism during FSW (friction stir welding) of Ni model alloys (Ni, 20%Cr, 2%Al, 2%Ti and Ni, 20%Cr, 3%Al, 3%Ti) in which Al and Ti contents were varied to control the …