Researchers from Britain’s University of Huddersfield and China’s Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), will collaborate to produce a detailed appraisal on the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) technique, denoting its increasing significance to the modern industry.
Though the researchers conclude that FSW can be used successfully to join difficult-to-weld materials, they assert that the technique and scientific understanding of it is still at an early stage in its development. “So far, the development of the FSW process for each new application has remained largely empirical. Scientific, knowledge-based numerical studies are of significant help in understanding the FSW process,” they wrote.
Many challenges remain in the development and analysis of FSW, the three researchers conclude, adding that the digest that they have presented in the Progress in Materials Science article is intended to provide the basis for further research.