Underwater repair by friction stitch welding

Single sided butt and window welds in tubular members have been the cause of fatigue failures in several offshore structures. Under the sponsorship of Chevron UK Limited, The Welding Institute has developed a new technique for the repair of cracked butt welds. This process, named friction stitch welding, is a viable alternative to hyperbaric welding or in some instances grouted clamps, and will be significantly faster