A method of friction stir welding a pipe to an element using a tubular anvil, a structure manufactured by this method

摘要

Friction stir welding is used to connect a thin gauge pipe having a wall thickness of less than or equal to about 2.54 mm (0.100 inch) to another element such as, for example, a tube sheet of a heat exchanger For example. This process uses a tubular anvil placed at the end of the tube. The tubular anvil, in one embodiment, can provide material during the friction stir welding process. After the welding is completed, the welding region between the tubular anvil and the pipe is cut off by machining and the anvil tube is removed.