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

该合同为购买搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）设备提供部分资金。FSW是一种相对较新的固态连接技术，其中焊接接头是通过销钉的搅拌作用产生的，从而使材料塑化和移动。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。这对于高强度和先进的铝合金和复合材料特别有吸引力，传统上认为这些材料是不可焊接的。此外，由于剧烈的塑性变形，在搅拌区形成了非常细的晶粒，导致接头的力学性能达到母材的80- 100%。这与传统的熔焊技术相比具有巨大的优势，传统的熔焊技术通常会使接头强度降低50%。该设备将为搅拌摩擦焊接参数的建模提供数据，并将导致对搅拌摩擦焊接过程中涉及的机制的更好的基本理解。该设备还将提供机会，开发新的加工技术，利用摩擦搅拌的概念。新型搅拌摩擦焊设备将使以下方面的研究成为可能：1)高强度铝合金和铝基复合材料的连接；2)一体化被动阻尼结构搅拌摩擦焊；3)搅拌摩擦加工在商业铝合金板的经济超塑性成形。该研究将由一个跨学科团队进行，包括与工业（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的搅拌摩擦焊接设备将为整个中西部地区的教育机构和中小企业提供研究和教育资源，目前中西部地区没有这样的开放式设施。这笔拨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，焊接接头是由一根销的搅拌作用产生的，这种搅拌作用使材料塑化和移动。这种简单而优雅的摩擦搅拌概念允许加入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高级铝合金特别有吸引力。即使对于可焊铝合金，FSW方法也有望显著改善其性能。该技术也很环保，因为不涉及熔剂或覆盖气体，局部摩擦加热使该过程非常节能。此外，摩擦搅拌过程中剧烈的塑性变形导致搅拌区域的晶粒非常细。细晶粒的微观结构产生非常理想的机械性能，高达80%的母材。这是一个巨大的优势，传统的熔焊技术，接头强度降低了50%。该设备将为搅拌摩擦焊接过程的建模提供数据，从而更好地了解搅拌摩擦焊接的基本原理。该研究将由密苏里大学罗拉分校、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）的一个跨学科研究小组进行。UMR的搅拌摩擦焊接设备将是密苏里州教育机构中唯一的此类设备，也是全国仅有的几个设备之一。它将成为UMR以及整个中西部地区其他教育机构和中小企业在这种连接技术方面的研究和教育资源，目前没有这样的开放式设施。

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.