Friction Stir Welded (FSW) Structural / Propellant Tanks
VENG S.A.
Pressurized and non-pressurized aluminum launch-vehicle structural/propellant tanks fabricated with friction stir welding at VENG's dedicated FSW center.
Technical specifications
- Prototype Length
- 3.5 m
- Prototype Diameter
- 2.5 m
- Wall Thickness
- 3.2 mm
- Material
- Aluminum 2219 (space-grade)
- Welding Method
- Friction stir welding, AWS standard
- FSW Machine Weld Types
- Longitudinal, circumferential
- FSW Machine Joint Types
- Butt, lap
- FSW Machine Thickness Range
- 2.4-13 mm
- FSW Machine Max Weld Length
- 2,600 mm
- FSW Machine Tool RPM
- 5-2,000
- FSW Machine Max Load
- 53,400 N
- FSW Machine Max Torque
- 450 Nm
About
VENG designs, fabricates and integrates pressurized and non-pressurized aluminum structures using friction stir welding (FSW). Its most recent milestone was the design, fabrication and integration of a first-stage prototype tank for the Tronador II-250 launch vehicle, built from space-grade Aluminum 2219 and welded per American Welding Society friction-stir standards. Final-stage flight tanks are planned at 8 m (liquid oxygen) and 6 m (kerosene), doubling as both fuselage and propellant storage. The FSW center is equipped with a Nova Tech Engineering Inc. machine capable of longitudinal and circumferential, butt and lap welds on aluminum alloys.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.
