Dr. Carter Hamilton, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Professor Carter Hamilton: Involving students in international research collaboration

Friction Stir Welding research

The research in friction stir welding (FSW) of Dr. Carter Hamilton, assistant professor of mechanical and manufacturing engineering has played an important role in involving students in international collaboration with the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland.

Invented in 1991 by The Welding Institute in the United Kingdom, FSW is a novel solid-state joining process that is gaining popularity in the manufacturing sector and, in particular, the aerospace industry. Since no melting occurs during FSW, the process is performed at much lower temperatures than conventional welding techniques and circumvents many of the environmental and safety issues associated with these other welding methods.

The plastic deformation and temperature profile during FSW produce a microstructure characterized by a central weld nugget surrounded by a thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat-affected zone (HAZ). The welded joint is fundamentally defect-free and displays excellent mechanical properties when compared to conventional fusion welds.

Also, since FSW is a solid phase process, not a liquid phase process for which melting occurs, metals that were “difficult” to weld through traditional techniques are now weldable with FSW.

Since its introduction, numerous researchers have sought to characterize the principles of FSW and to model the microstructural evolution and temperature behavior.  The international collaboration, funded in part by Miami’s Hampton Fund, developed a thermal model of FSW for aluminum alloys and demonstrated that aluminum alloys with similar thermal diffusivities follow a characteristic curve when the ratio of the maximum welding temperature to the solidus temperature is plotted against the welding energy.

Kraków, Poland

This fruitful international research collaboration has also opened up opportunities for undergraduate students toward study abroad experiences.

During the summers, students now travel to Kraków for six weeks during which time they enroll in MME 211 Statics or MME 313 Fluids on site at AGH University. In addition, students have the opportunity to enroll in Women in Polish Heritage, a course taught by Dr. Pawel Laidler from Kraków’s Jagiellonian University for which they receive an additional three hours of course credit toward the Liberal Education portion of their curriculum (World Cultures).

Outside the classroom, students participate in cultural events sponsored by the host institution, visit Auschwitz, the historic Salt Mines, explore the city of Kraków, and travel to other European destinations.

Slide show of Student in Poland

[video http://seasnews.eas.muohio.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/studentsinkrakowv3.mov nolink]

Click on the “Play” button or “Download Video” to see the slide show.