摘要 |
A method of friction stir welding joints with shims and an associated structural assembly is provided. The structural assembly includes one or more skin members that are disposed and friction stir welded to a substructure. A shim is disposed in a space defined by the other members of the assembly, e.g., between adjacent skin members or between a skin member and the substructure. The shim can be friction stir welded to the other members. That is, the adjacent skin members can be connected via the shim, and/or the skin members can be connected to the substructure via the shim. In some cases, the skin members and the substructure are relatively stiff, and the shim substantially fills the space to reduce flexing of the members during the friction stir welding operation.
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