Abstract
Lap joints of 2198-T8 Al-Li alloy in 0.063 in. sheet thickness were friction stir welded to investigate the combination of this material and assembly method for the manufacturing of aerospace structures. Along with conventional friction stir welding (FSW), weaved FSW and pulsed FSW (PFSW) were evaluated to determine the potential impact of these variant technologies on weld strength. Additionally, a more traditional flat shoulder tool geometry operated with a tilt angle was compared to a tapered shoulder tool geometry operated at a 0° tilt angle, which offers the possibility of simplifying robotic welding operations. Faying surface sealant, the use of which is critical in aerospace applications, was investigated as well, to determine its impact on weld strength and to characterize its interactions with welding parameters and process variants.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 12-22 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Manufacturing Processes |
| Volume | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This research was supported by the Tennessee Space Grant Consortium . We acknowledge the assistance of David Walker and Spirit AeroSystems of Wichita, KS for donating the 2198 Al–Li sheet material used in this research, Tennessee Metal Works of Nashville, TN for milling the sheets to the desired thickness, and Gilbert Sylva of Eclipse Aerospace for providing advice and technical guidance on the subject of friction stir lap joining with sealants.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Alabama Space Grant Consortium |
Keywords
- Aerospace
- Aluminum lithium
- Automation
- Friction stir welding
- Manufacturing
- Sealant