The Advanced Joining Laboratory at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research hosted a planning conference May 25 in an effort to gain industry support for WSU to become a university research site of the National Science Foundation’s Center for Friction Stir Processing (CFSP).

In February, WSU received a $10,000 NSF planning grant to begin the process of becoming a CFSP member. The purpose of the meeting was to inform local industry about the CFSP and the proposed projects that the university plans to undertake with funding received from industry memberships.

In order to become a CFSP research site, WSU must receive commitments of at least $150,000 in membership fees from industry and government members. Companies, government research and development organizations and government-owned contractor operated laboratories may become members of the CFSP by contributing $35,000 annually in support of the WSU research site.

As part of the planning conference, researchers presented proposed research programs divided into three research areas as shown below:

• Research Area 1: Development of a Performance Specification Model for Friction Stir Welding and Processing
  
  • Proposal 1.1:  Structural Integrity Performance of Stiffened Aluminum Panels Manufactured Using Friction Stir Welding – Dr. Dale Cope, NIAR
  • Proposal 1.2: Integrated Design, Manufacturing & Acceptance Process of FSW – Dr. Haitao Liao, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Proposal 1.3: Performance Evaluation of Discontinuous Friction Stir Welding – Josh Merry, Graduate Research Assistant
  • Proposal 1.4: Corrosion Evaluation of Friction Stir Spot Welding and Friction Stir Lap Welding – Jeremy Brown, Graduate Research Assistant
  • Proposal 1.5: Performance Evaluation of Friction Stir Weld Corrosion Resistance in High-Strength Aluminum Alloys – Dr. Christian Widener, NIAR
    
• Research Area 2: Development of Process Specification Development Guides of Industrial Partners
  
  • Proposal 2.1: Process Specification Development Guides for Friction Stir Welding Field Repairs – Dr. Kurt Soschinske, Mechanical Engineering
  • Proposal 2.2: Thermal Management Process Specification Development – Holly Haynes, Undergraduate Student
  • Proposal 2.3: Inspection Technologies for Friction Stir Processing Process Specification Development – Bruce Crouse, Cowley College
  • Proposal 2.4: Tooling Approaches for Process Specification – Bryan Tweedy, NIAR
    
• Research Area 3: Development of Design Model for Lean Structure by Friction Stir Welding and Processing
  
  • Proposal 3.1: Increasing the Economic Advantage of FSW Processing via Lean/Green Principles – Dr. Janet Twomey, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Proposal 3.2: FSW Lean Design Experience for Senior Design Undergraduates – Dr. Kurt Soschinske, Mechanical Engineering

Industry participants were then asked to evaluate the projects and chart their level of interest. Collectively the proposal presentations received positive marks with 43% responses indicating interest or strong interest and 25% indicating interest with change. 

NIAR Advanced Joining Lab Director Dr. Dwight Burford speaks to members of the aircraft industry about WSU's potential capabilities as a member of the NSF CFSP.

Representatives from the area aircraft industry, including Boeing Phantom Works, Bombardier/Learjet, Cessna Aircraft Company, Raytheon Aircraft Company and Spirit Aerosystems attended the planning session along with representatives of several other area companies. The FAA committed to becoming a member of the WSU research site prior to the planning conference.

“The aircraft industry in Wichita is a very tight-knit group and they pay a lot of attention to what is happening at NIAR,” said Ron Weddle of Cessna. “I think the industry will support this.”

If you are interested in supporting WSU as a research site of the CFSP or would like more details contact Dr. Dwight Burford at dwight.burford@wichita.edu.

Or visit the websites to learn more about the CFSP and the Advanced Joining Lab at NIAR.