Friction Stir Welding (FSW) offers new opportunities for efficient and cost effective airframe

摘要

Depending on airframe components, and Helicopter product considered (Military or Civil, Heavy, medium, light) technology evaluation can lead to select composite or metallic materials. During the last thirty years R&T has focused mainly on composite technology. In 2009, EC has launched a research program dealing with advanced concepts for airframe, and after 4 years, working on several light materials and the friction stir welding (FSW) joining technique, we are about to achieve our goal. One can say that this technology offers a breakthrough and reach savings up to 21% in cost and 6% in performance compared to conventional metallic.