J. L. Covington, W. Robison, B. W. Webb, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Summary: Heat transfer to the tool during friction stir welding of AL 7075-T7351 was experimentally determined for tool rotation speed in the range 200 - 500 rpm, feed rates between 51 - 305 mm/min, and nominal tool plunge depths of 4.52 - 4.82 mm. The heat transfer to the tool was determined to vary from 2.8% to 5.1% of the mechanical power supplied to the tool over the full range of operating parameters investigated.