Acquisition of a Friction Stir Welding Equipment for Metal Joining Research and Education

该合同为搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）设备的采购提供部分资金。搅拌摩擦焊接是一种相对较新的固态连接技术，其中焊接接头是通过塑化和移动材料的销的搅拌作用产生的。这种简单的摩擦搅拌概念允许连接任何铝合金或复合材料，因为不涉及填充材料。这对于传统上被认为不可焊接的高强度和先进铝合金和复合材料特别有吸引力。此外，由于严重的塑性变形，在搅拌区域中形成非常细的晶粒，导致接头的机械性能为母体材料的80- 100%。这与通常接头强度降低50%的传统熔焊技术相比具有巨大的优势。该设备将为搅拌摩擦焊参数的建模提供数据，并将导致对FSW过程中所涉及的机制有更好的基本理解。该设备还将提供利用摩擦搅拌概念开发新加工技术的机会。新的搅拌摩擦焊接设备将允许研究：1）高强度铝合金和铝基复合材料的连接; 2）集成被动阻尼结构的搅拌摩擦焊接; 3）商业铝合金板材经济超塑性成形的搅拌摩擦加工。该研究将由一个跨学科的团队进行，其中包括与行业（例如罗克韦尔科学中心和波音幻影工厂）和政府实验室（例如空军研究实验室）的合作。此外，UMR的搅拌摩擦焊设施将作为整个中西部地区教育机构和中小型工业的研究和教育资源，目前还没有这样的开放设施存在。这笔赠款为购买搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）设备提供部分资金。搅拌摩擦焊是一种相对较新的固态连接技术，其中焊接接头通过使材料塑化和移动的销的搅拌作用产生。这种简单而优雅的摩擦搅拌概念允许连接任何铝合金或铝基复合材料，因为不需要填充材料。这对于传统上被认为不可焊接的高强度和先进铝合金特别有吸引力。即使对于可焊铝合金，也期望FSW方法在性能上有显著改进。这种技术也是环境友好的，因为不涉及焊剂或覆盖气体，并且局部摩擦加热使该过程具有高能效。此外，在摩擦搅拌过程中，剧烈的塑性变形导致搅拌区的晶粒非常细小。细晶粒的显微组织产生非常理想的机械性能，高达基体金属的80%。这是一个巨大的优势，超过传统的熔焊技术，其中接头强度降低了50%。该设备将为搅拌摩擦焊过程的建模提供数据，这将导致对FSW的更好的基本理解。这项研究将由来自密苏里州大学罗拉分校、工业界（如罗克韦尔科学中心和波音幻影工厂）和政府实验室（如空军研究实验室）的跨学科研究小组进行。UMR的摩擦搅拌焊接设施将是密苏里州教育机构中唯一的此类设施，也是全国为数不多的设施之一。它将作为UMR以及整个中西部地区其他教育机构和中小型行业的这种连接技术的研究和教育资源，目前还没有这样的开放设施。

This award provides partial funding for the acquisition of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) equipment. FSW is a relatively new solid-state joining technique where a welded joint is produced by the stirring action of a pin that plasticizes and moves material. This simple concept of friction stirring allows joining of any aluminum alloy or composite as no filler material is involved. This is particularly attractive for high strength and advanced aluminum alloys and composites, which are traditionally considered unweldable. In addition, formation of very fine grains in the stirred region due to severe plastic deformation leads to mechanical properties of the joint that are 80-100 % of the parent material. This presents a tremendous advantage over the conventional fusion welding technique where joint strength reduction of 50 % is typical. The equipment will provide data for modeling of the friction stir welding parameters and it will lead to a better fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in the FSW process. The equipment will also provide opportunities to develop new processing techniques by utilizing the friction stir concept. The new friction stir welding equipment will allow research in: 1) Joining of high strength aluminum alloys and aluminum matrix composites; 2) Friction stir welding of integrated passive damping structures; and 3) Friction stir processing for economical superplastic forming in commercial aluminum alloy sheets. The research will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team which includes collaboration with industries (e.g. Rockwell Science Center and Boeing Phantom Works) and government laboratories (e.g. Air Force Research Laboratory). In addition, the friction stir welding facility at UMR will serve as a research and educational resource for the educational institutions and small-to-medium industries in the entire mid-western region where no such open facility exists at present.This grant provides partial funding for the acquisition of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) equipment. Friction stir welding is a relatively new solid-state joining technique where a welded joint is produced by the stirring action of a pin that plasticizes and moves material. This simple and elegant concept of friction stirring allows joining of any aluminum alloy or aluminum matrix composite as no filler material is required. This is particularly attractive for high strength and advanced aluminum alloys that are traditionally considered unweldable. Even for weldable aluminum alloys, significant improvements in properties are expected with the FSW method. This technique is also environment friendly as no flux or cover gases are involved and the localized friction heating makes the process highly energy efficient. In addition, the severe plastic deformation during friction stirring leads to very fine grains in the stirred region. The fine-grained microstructure produces very desirable mechanical properties that are as high as 80% of the base metal. This is a tremendous advantage over the conventional fusion welding technique where the joint strength is reduced by 50%. The equipment will provide data for modeling of the friction stir welding process that will lead to a better fundamental understanding of FSW. The research will be conducted by an interdisciplinary research team from the University of Missouri at Rolla, industries (e.g. Rockwell Science Center and Boeing Phantom Works) and government laboratories (e.g. Air Force Research Laboratory). The friction stir welding facility at UMR will be the only such facility at an educational institution in the state of Missouri and one of only a few in the nation. It will serve as a research and educational resource in this joining technology at UMR as well as other educational institutions and small-to-medium size industries in the entire mid-western region where no such open facility exists at present.