FSW Welded Tanks
We have the capability to develop pressurized and non-pressurized structures through the Friction Stir Wielding (FSW) manufacturing technique. As a last experience, we carried out the design, fabrication and integration of a prototype first stage tank of the Tronador II-250 launcher. It is 3.5 meters long, 2.5 meters in diameter and 3.2 millimeters thick and was welded by the friction-stir welding method under international standards of the American Welding Society, a technology of unprecedented use in the country. All its components are made of 2219 aluminum for space use.
Cap
Tank closure element
Tank Flap
Extension of the shell that allows attachment to other primary structures.
primarias
Wrap
Cylindrical tank section
Interface
Circumferential Flange Dome Welding
Meridional Welding Segments
Circumferential Weld Cap/Wrap
Longitudinal weld Beams/Wrapping
Circumferential Weld Wrap/Wrap
Longitudinal Weld Wrapped/Wrapped
Scroll through the icons to know the parts or the type of tank welding.
This prototype is a milestone for the Tronador project, which is carried out by VENG and the national space agency (CONAE), since it is the enabling technology that will allow reaching the final fabrication of the first stage structural tanks, whose length will be 8 meters for liquid oxygen and 6 meters for kerosene. These tanks will simultaneously serve as fuselage and propellant storage tanks.
The Tronador project aims at placing satellites in low orbits at 600 kilometers from the Earth from the national territory through a launcher developed entirely in the country. Tronador II is part of the Satellite Injector Program for Light Payloads (ISCUL) designed by the National Space Activities Commission (CONAE).
Specialty Welding: Friction Stir Welding Center (FSWC)—
Solid state welding process where a non-consumable tool is used to join two parts without melting the part material. This allows very high joint efficiencies to be achieved in alloys where conventional (fusion) welding degrades the mechanical properties by a high percentage. Therefore, friction stir welding is widely used in the space, naval and military industries to weld mainly aluminum alloys.
Friction Stir Welding Center (FSWC)
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MANUFACTURER |
Nova Tech Engineering Inc.
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GEOMETRY |
Longitudinal, circumferential welds |
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JOINTS |
Butt, Overlapping |
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MATERIALS |
Aluminum alloys |
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THICKNESSES |
2,4 mm – 13 mm
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WELDING LENGTH
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2600 mm (maximum) |
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TOOL RPM
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5 rpm – 2000 rpm
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MAXIMUM LOAD
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53400 N
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MAXIMUM TORQUE |
450 Nm |
