Connect, no.123, March - April 2003, p.3
The continuing development of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) has led to a number of process variants. This article describes preliminary work carried out on Re-stir TM welding at TWI. The main features of the process are shown in Fig.1. The process may be applied as both angular reciprocating, where reversal is imposed within one revolution, and rotary reversal, where reversal is imposed after one or more revolutions.
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Fig.1. The basic principle of Re-stir TM, showing the reversal technique
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The Re-stir TM welding technique provides a cyclic and essentially symmetrical process. Problems associated with the inherent asymmetry of conventional rotary FSW are avoided.
Surface appearance
Figure 2 shows the appearance of the weld surface that is formed beneath the tool shoulder produced at a welding speed of 1.6 mm/sec (96 mm/min), using 5 revolutions per interval.
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Fig.2. Surface appearance of a Re-stir TM weld
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Figure 3 shows the detail of the surface of a weld made at 4 mm/sec (240 mm/min) travel speed, using 10 revolutions per interval. The fine surface ripples reveal the number of rotations and the extent of the interval, whilethe less frequent, coarser and wider surface ripples reveal the position of the change in rotation direction. For Re-stir TM, the distance and time between each interval depends on the combination of rotational speed and the travel speed used.
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Fig.3. Close up of Re-stir TM weld surface formed beneath the tool shoulder showing surface rippling and reversal interval
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Lap welds
Macrosections of a lap weld made by Re-stir TM are shown in Fig.4a, b & c. This weld was made in 5083-O condition aluminium alloy, using a Flared-Triflute TM type probe designed for rotary stir, at a travel speed of 3.3 mm/sec (198 mm/min) and at 10 revolutions per interval. Figure 4a shows an essentially symmetrical weld. It should be noted that this weld shows detrimental plate thinning/hooking owing to the non-optimisation of welding parameters but does serve to illustrate the symmetricalnature of the weld produced by the Re-stir TM technique.
The longitudinal section shown in Fig.4b is taken at a position at the edge of the weld region and shows the effect of the change in the direction of rotation. The plan view in Fig 4c reveals a patterned weld region surrounded by a HAZ. There is some evidence that during the reversal stage some of the 'Third-body' plasticised material close to the probe is 're-stirred' back in the oppositedirection.
Fig.4. Metallurgical sections showing the effect of the Re-stir TM technique on the weld shape
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Fig.4a) Macrosection shows an essentially symmetrical dovetail shaped weld with similar amount of upturn of the plate interface each side of the weld
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Fig.4b) Longitudinal macrosection showing regular patterns caused by rotation reversal
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Fig.4c) Plan macrosection taken mid thickness showing the effect of reversal motion
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Although it is early days and much more development work is required before the technique can be used commercially, the prognosis for the success of Re-stir TM welding is good. The process has been found to be robust in trials to date although the probe geometry, the rotational speed, and the reversal frequency have yet to be optimised. Work is continuing at TWI withpurpose-designed tools with straight flutes and neutral or balanced ridges. It seems likely that an essentially symmetrical technique like Re-stir TM may well become the preferred option for certain butt, lap, compound lap and spot welding and material processing applications.
The full text of this article is available.
Further details may be obtained from Wayne Thomas, David Staines, Ian Norris, Edward Watts or E-mail: wayne.thomas@twi.co.uk
The Re-stir TM
Fig.1. The basic principle of Re-stir TM, showing the reversal technique
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welding technique provides a cyclic and essentially symmetrical process. Problems associated with the inherent asymmetry of conventional rotary FSW are avoided.
Surface appearance
Figure 2 shows the appearance of the weld surface that is formed beneath the tool shoulder produced at a welding speed of 1.6 mm/sec (96 mm/min), using 5 revolutions per interval.
Figure 3
Fig.2. Surface appearance of a Re-stir TM weld
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shows the detail of the surface of a weld made at 4 mm/sec (240 mm/min) travel speed, using 10 revolutions per interval. The fine surface ripples reveal the number of rotations and the extent of the interval, whilethe less frequent, coarser and wider surface ripples reveal the position of the change in rotation direction. For Re-stir
TM, the distance and time between each interval depends on the combination of rotational speed and the travel speed used.
Lap welds
Fig.3. Close up of Re-stir TM weld surface formed beneath the tool shoulder showing surface rippling and reversal interval
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Macrosections of a lap weld made by Re-stir TM are shown in Fig.4a, b & c. This weld was made in 5083-O condition aluminium alloy, using a Flared-Triflute TM type probe designed for rotary stir, at a travel speed of 3.3 mm/sec (198 mm/min) and at 10 revolutions per interval. Figure 4a shows an essentially symmetrical weld. It should be noted that this weld shows detrimental plate thinning/hooking owing to the non-optimisation of welding parameters but does serve to illustrate the symmetricalnature of the weld produced by the Re-stir TM technique.
The longitudinal section shown in Fig.4b is taken at a position at the edge of the weld region and shows the effect of the change in the direction of rotation. The plan view in Fig 4c reveals a patterned weld region surrounded by a HAZ. There is some evidence that during the reversal stage some of the 'Third-body' plasticised material close to the probe is 're-stirred' back in the oppositedirection.
Fig.4. Metallurgical sections showing the effect of the Re-stir TM technique on the weld shape
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Fig.4c) Plan macrosection taken mid thickness showing the effect of reversal motion
Although it is early days and much more development work is required before the technique can be used commercially, the prognosis for the success of Re-stir TM welding is good. The process has been found to be robust in trials to date although the probe geometry, the rotational speed, and the reversal frequency have yet to be optimised. Work is continuing at TWI withpurpose-designed tools with straight flutes and neutral or balanced ridges. It seems likely that an essentially symmetrical technique like Re-stir TM may well become the preferred option for certain butt, lap, compound lap and spot welding and material processing applications.
The full text of this article is available.
Further details may be obtained from Wayne Thomas, David Staines, Ian Norris, Edward Watts or E-mail: wayne.thomas@twi.co.uk
