M. Valant, V. Soundararajan, Southern Methodist University, Richardson, TX; R. Kovacevic, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

Summary: This paper details a new tool for friction stir spot welding applications like joining two aluminum sheets. The weld produced using this tool has considerably higher shear strength compared to the friction stir spot welds produced using conventional tool. The welds can be produced in a very short duration and are one-sided, making this process easily adaptable to the needs of automotive industry.