Normal
0

false
false
false

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Normální tabulka";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

Airframes are made by mechanically fastening subcomponents together or by integrally NC machining them from solid material.

Mechanical fastening suffers from a weight penalty, difficulty of automation, requirement for sealants and corrosion problems. NC machining is a wasteful process in terms of time, energy and raw material.

Welding can provide cost savings of up to 30% and weight savings of up to 10%. FSW has great potential for manufacturing airframes. Therefore the objective of the WAFS project was to advance the state of the art of 'Friction stir welding' (FSW) to enable the widespread adoption of the technology to primary structures in airframes.

Project outputs and areas of innovation were:

• FSW tool designs and process parameters;
• new techniques for improvement of properties of joints made with FSW;