Chapter 7
Tubular Structures: Welding Difficulty
and Potential of Friction Stir Welding
Debolina Sen, Surjya Kanta Pal, and Sushanta Kumar Panda
Abstract Tubular structures find usage in various industries such as aerospace and
automobiles. Different techniques involving casting, forming and welding are used to
fabricate tubes; among all, welding is the most utilized manufacturing route because
of its versatility and cost-effectiveness. This chapter provides an exhaustive understanding of various welding techniques utilized for manufacturing of tubes, stating
their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the production of tubular structures
with a newer welding technique known as “Friction Stir Welding” has been discussed
in detail. A case study has been presented which shows the potential of this process
over other welding techniques.
Keywords Tubular structure · Seamless tube · Welded tube · Fusion welding ·
Solid-state welding · Friction stir welding
7.1 Introduction
Production of tubular components was introduced in the early 1800s, and since then
these components have found their applications in several industries, such as in
automobile, aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas and food processing, either as a structural component or for conveying fluids [1, 2]. In aerospace and aviation industries,
tubular structure forms the core part of the aircraft which can operate flawlessly under
high pressure and temperature. The rocket fuel tanks, webbed fuselage structures,
steering columns, landing gears for an aircraft, etc., are some of the tubular components which are being used by these industries [3]. Automobile industries also find
D. Sen · S. K. Pal (B) · S. K. Panda
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur,
West Bengal 721302, India
e-mail: skpal@mech.iitkgp.ac.in
D. Sen
e-mail: debolinasen90@gmail.com
S. K. Panda
e-mail: sushanta.panda@mech.iitkgp.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. P. Davim (ed.), Welding Technology, Materials Forming, Machining
and Tribology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63986-0_7
229
Tubular Structures: Welding Difficulty
and Potential of Friction Stir Welding
Debolina Sen, Surjya Kanta Pal, and Sushanta Kumar Panda
Abstract Tubular structures find usage in various industries such as aerospace and
automobiles. Different techniques involving casting, forming and welding are used to
fabricate tubes; among all, welding is the most utilized manufacturing route because
of its versatility and cost-effectiveness. This chapter provides an exhaustive understanding of various welding techniques utilized for manufacturing of tubes, stating
their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the production of tubular structures
with a newer welding technique known as “Friction Stir Welding” has been discussed
in detail. A case study has been presented which shows the potential of this process
over other welding techniques.
Keywords Tubular structure · Seamless tube · Welded tube · Fusion welding ·
Solid-state welding · Friction stir welding
7.1 Introduction
Production of tubular components was introduced in the early 1800s, and since then
these components have found their applications in several industries, such as in
automobile, aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas and food processing, either as a structural component or for conveying fluids [1, 2]. In aerospace and aviation industries,
tubular structure forms the core part of the aircraft which can operate flawlessly under
high pressure and temperature. The rocket fuel tanks, webbed fuselage structures,
steering columns, landing gears for an aircraft, etc., are some of the tubular components which are being used by these industries [3]. Automobile industries also find
D. Sen · S. K. Pal (B) · S. K. Panda
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur,
West Bengal 721302, India
e-mail: skpal@mech.iitkgp.ac.in
D. Sen
e-mail: debolinasen90@gmail.com
S. K. Panda
e-mail: sushanta.panda@mech.iitkgp.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. P. Davim (ed.), Welding Technology, Materials Forming, Machining
and Tribology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63986-0_7
229