INNOVATIONS IN FRICTION STIR WELDING FOR MARINE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Friction stir welding (FSW) has been widely used for the fabrication of safety critical aluminium structures in the aerospace, road, rail and marine transport industries since its invention in 1991. Due to its ability to make high strength, tough, fatigue resistant welds with very low distortion, and the fact that the process can work underwater, considerable interest has been shown over many years in transferring the technology to the welding of steel. The difficulties in developing tools able to stir steel at the elevated temperatures required, in excess of 900oC, are now being overcome and the process is being developed for welding steel with an initial focus on marine applications. This paper discusses the technical advances being made at TWI and outlines the newly begun EU project “RESURGAM” which looks to develop the process for both the construction and repair of ships.