Friction spot joining in aluminium car bodies

Purpose - To review the capabilities of a new method of welding aluminium sheets for car body construction. Design/methodology/approach - Describes the friction spot joining technique, and how it differs from friction stir welding. Describes the tests carried out at the University of Warwick to compare this with other aluminium sheet joining techniques. Findings - Compared with resistance spot welding, this technique is simple, and physically and electromagnetically clean. Its low energy requirement per joint and low running costs give it advantages in joining thin materials, and eventual recycling is much easier than with self-piercing riveting joints. Originality/value - Describes the motivation behind the continuing development of an all-aluminium joining technique, and compares spot friction joining with self-pierce riveting and resistance spot welding.