Corner Stationary Shoulder FSW (CSS-FSW) is a recent development of the FSW process, whereby a rotating probe and protrudes through a V-shaped stationary shoulder, to join components in a T-joint configuration. The process leaves a weld with a mirror-finish surface and excellent mechanical properties.
Like conventional FSW, CSS-FSW is a solid-state process which enables joining of ‘not-fusion-weldable’ aluminium alloys in the 2000- and 7000-series. This makes it ideally suited for aircraft fuselage structures such as stringer-skin joints, thereby enabling significant weight reductions by eliminating the need for overlapping flanges, rivets and sealant.
A full-scale Aircraft cargo door demonstrator is being produced at TWI as part of the Clean Sky Project ‘OASIS’. The ultimate objective of the project is to replace riveted structures by welded structures.
For more information, visit www.cleansky-oasis.eu