Three-dimensional visualization of material flow during friction stir welding by two pairs of X-ray transmission systems

Material flow during friction stir welding is crucial to obtaining sound joints. However, this phenomenon is still not fully understood despite many investigations and numerous models. In this study, the material flow is three-dimensionally visualized by X-ray radiography using a tiny spherical tungsten tracer. The movement of the tracer during the friction stir welding is observed by two pairs of X-ray transmission real-time imaging systems. The three-dimensional material flow is obtained by following the locus of the tracer. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.