Abstract: A system including a vessel for containing a fill material and a vibration source connected to the vessel. The vibration source can increase a bulk density of the fill material. A fill material ratio can be defined as a particle density of the fill material divided by the bulk density of the fill material after vibration. After the vibration source increases the bulk density of the fill material, the fill material ratio can range from about 0.15 to about 0.75.

Abstract: A back-up tooling apparatus for supporting the inner side of a hollow cylindrical workpiece during a circumferential friction stir weld includes a plurality of arcuate shoes configured to mate end-to-end to form a substantially continuous ring, and an expandable support for supporting the shoes and operable to retract and expand the shoes inward and outward. The expandable support includes at least one rotatable feed screw and central support members mounted on the feed screw or screws and pivotally connected to the shoes by support arms. The central support members are moved axially toward or away from each other for expanding or retracting the shoes. The shoes in one embodiment overlap in the circumferential direction, and a seal material is disposed between mating end faces of adjacent shoes. A restraining device is provided for clamping about the workpiece to reduce thermal expansion thereof. Cable-and-winch and geared drive devices are provided for rotatably driving the workpiece from its outer surface.

Abstract: A back-up tooling apparatus for supporting the inner side of a hollow cylindrical workpiece during a circumferential friction stir weld includes a plurality of arcuate shoes configured to mate end-to-end to form a substantially continuous ring, and an expandable support for supporting the shoes and operable to retract and expand the shoes inward and outward. The expandable support includes at least one rotatable feed screw and central support members mounted on the feed screw or screws and pivotally connected to the shoes by support arms. The central support members are moved axially toward or away from each other for expanding or retracting the shoes. The shoes in one embodiment overlap in the circumferential direction, and a seal material is disposed between mating end faces of adjacent shoes. A restraining device is provided for clamping about the workpiece to reduce thermal expansion thereof. Cable-and-winch and geared drive devices are provided for rotatably driving the workpiece from its outer surface.

Abstract: A back-up tooling apparatus for supporting the inner side of a hollow cylindrical workpiece during a circumferential friction stir weld includes a plurality of arcuate shoes configured to mate end-to-end to form a substantially continuous ring, and an expandable support for supporting the shoes and operable to retract and expand the shoes inward and outward. The expandable support includes at least one rotatable feed screw and central support members mounted on the feed screw or screws and pivotally connected to the shoes by support arms. The central support members are moved axially toward or away from each other for expanding or retracting the shoes. The shoes in one embodiment overlap in the circumferential direction, and a seal material is disposed between mating end faces of adjacent shoes. A restraining device is provided for clamping about the workpiece to reduce thermal expansion thereof. Cable-and-winch and geared drive devices are provided for rotatably driving the workpiece from its outer surface.