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Jonathan Martin

Jonathan joined TWI in 2005, having obtained a first class honours degree in Metallurgical Engineering and 20 years’ industrial experience designing and building special purpose machine tools for steel and aerospace companies worldwide.

Jonathan is the TWI Technology Fellow for Friction Stir Welding (FSW) and provides R&D and welding engineering consultancy support to TWI Member companies worldwide. He is an active member of IIW Welding Commission III, has sat on three working groups related to friction welding, and is Chair of IIW C-III-B-WG-B6, Friction Stir Welding of Steel.  Jonathan also managed the development of a Technical Specification for use in conjunction with BS EN 15085 for the welding of railway vehicles and components. This was the first of a kind and the first railcar manufacturer has now been audited and awarded accreditation.

Jonathan won the 2014 Larke-Lillicrap Award, which was presented by The Welding Institute to the team who has had the most influence or impact upon the practical application of novel welding or joining knowledge or technology. The award-winning project transferred FSW technology and established operational capability for Taiwan shipbuilding. He led the team for one of the two shipyards (Ching Fu Shipbuilding). Activities included baseline FSW training, applications definition, WPS development, machine development, machine build, fixture design and build, machine factory and site acceptance tests, operator training, engineer training, pre-production demos, and DNV WPS qualification.

During his time at TWI, Jonathan has managed numerous welding projects for clients from a range of industry sectors including aerospace, construction, and transport. He has provided consultancy support and successfully delivered projects for marine, railway and aerospace applications. The majority of the project deliveries included consultancy support in the development of technical specifications for specific applications, development and qualification of welding procedures, optimisation of processes/procedures, weld performance evaluation under different environmental conditions, fatigue performance evaluation, and the review of manufacturing documentations including welding procedures.

Since 2008, he has organised and run the International Friction Stir Welding Symposium, which is held every two years and moves around the major FSW user groupings of America, Europe and Asia. This event is held over three days, attracting over 200 delegates from countries from around the world. The technical programme typically contains 90 papers, presented by specialists on all aspects of friction stir welding technology.

He has published/presented over 40 scientific research reports, papers and presentations.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn

Novel Technique Development

The following developments are a collection of novel joining methods, practical demonstrations of theoretical techniques, and enhancements of existing procedures which Jonathan instigated and developed:

  • Floating Bobbin FSW technique: A simple technique, making full penetration welds using basic milling machines. This technique is now used in industry, enabling the development of the world’s first mobile FSW machine and is the subject of two patents
  • Corner FSW technique: A stationary shoulder technique to make fillet welds including adding material via a filler wire
  • AdStir: A stationary shoulder technique to add material to the weld via a filler wire. The main application is to fill the gap between components to be welded reducing expensive pre-weld machining operations
  • Supported FSW: A technique for supporting the FSW probe or bottom shoulder of a bobbin tool extending the thickness capability range of FSW
  • Gyre tool: A tool probe design for manipulating the joint interface when lap welding and minimising the effect of the hooking flaw
  • Moving backing bar: Elimination of lack of penetration defect

Professional Recognition

Jonathan received the following professional recognition:

  • Engineering Council

Chartered Engineer (CEng) Registrant Number 591062 : 

Awarded in 5 October 2011

  • TWI Larke-Lillicrap prize

One of the team who delivered a project to transferred FSW technology and establish operational capability for Taiwan Shipbuilding. 

Awarded in 2014

  • The Welding Institute

Fellow of the Welding Institute

Awarded in June 2018

  • BAE Chairmen’s award

Part of TWI’s team awarded with a BAE Systems Internal Award for Joint-less Aluminium Structural Assemblies

Awarded in 2019

  • TWI Certification - Technical expert

TWI CL Technical Expert

Awarded March 2023

International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding

Jonathan oversaw the following international events:

  • 7th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Awaji Island, Japan, May 2008
  • 8th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Lübeck, Germany May 2010.
  • 9th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Huntsville, Alabama May 2012.
  • 10th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Beijing, China May 2014.
  • 11th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Cambridge, UK, May 2016.
  • 12th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Quebec, UK, June 2018
  • 13th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Kyoto, Japan, May 2024.

Patents, Publications and Presentations

  1. WO 2012098810 A1: Rotary tool unit, friction stir welding method, double-skin panel assembly, and friction stir welding method for double-skin panel assembly. Publication date: 26 Jul 2012
  2. WO 2013076472 A1: Friction stir welding tool with two contacting shoulders. Publication date: 30 May 2013
  3. WO 2017121989 A1: Friction stir welding method, Publication date: 20 Jul 2017
  4. WO2021144564: BAE Systems: 22 July 2021
  1. The use of Bobbin Tools for Friction Stir Welding of Aluminium Alloys: Threadgill P.L, Ahmed M.M.Z, Martin J.P, Perrett J.G, Wynne B.P:  Materials Science Forum, January 2010
  2. Friction Stir Welding of Industrial Steels: Perrett J, Martin J, Peterson J, Steel R, Packer S: Friction Stir Welding and Processing VI, April 2011
  3. Novel Techniques for Corner Joints using Friction Stir Welding: Martin J.P., Stanhope C., Gascoyne S: Friction Stir Welding and Processing VI , April 2011, Pages 177–186
  4. Recent Developments in FSW: Jonathan Martin: Journal of the Japan Welding Society, January 2013
  5. Effect of Friction Stir Welding Speed on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Nickel Based Super Alloy Inconel 718: Ahmed M.M.Z., Wynne B.P., Martin J.P:  Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, November 2013, pages 680-687
  6. Comparison between Friction Stir and Submerged Arc Welding applied to Joining DH36 and E36 Shipbuilding Steel: Cater S., Martin J., Galloway A., McPherson N: Friction Stir Welding and Processing VII, January 2013, pages 49-58
  7. Friction Stir Welding Technology for Marine Applications: Martin J., Wei S: Friction Stir Welding and Processing VIII, April 2015, pages 219-226
  8. Microstructure and Texture Evolution of Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Welded Ti6Al4V Alloy: Xiaoqing Jiang, B. P. Wynne, Jonathan Martin: Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, May 2015
  9. Bobbin and Conventional Friction Stir Welding of Thick Extruded AA6005-T6 profiles: Esmaily M., Mortazavi N, Osikowicz W, Hindsefelt H, Svensson J.E, Halvarsson M, Martin J, Johansson L.G.: Materials and Design Volume 108, 15 October 2016, pages 114-125
  10. Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys—New Techniques: Jonathan Martin: Friction Stir Welding and Processing IX, February 2017
  11. A Numerical Methodology for Predicting Tool Wear in Friction Stir Welding: Hasan A.F., Bennett C.J., Shipway P.H., Cater S., Martin J: Journal of Materials Processing Technology, Volume 241, March 2017, pages 129-140
  12. Variant Selection in Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Welded Ti-6Al-4V Alloy: Jiang X., Wynne B.P., Martin J: Journal of Materials Science and Technology, Volume 34, Issue 1, January 2018, pages 198-208
  13. Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys—New Techniques: Jonathan Martin: Friction Stir Welding and Processing IX, February 2019
  14. Manufacturing Concept and Prototype for Train Component Using the FSW Process: Elizabeth Hoyos 1, Santiago Escobar, Jeroen De Backer, Jonathan Martin and Mauricio Palacio: Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, 2021
  15. Sustainability Score Comparison of Welding Strategies for the Manufacturing of Electric Transportation Components: Elizabeth Hoyos, María Camila Serna, Jeroen De Backer and Jonathan Martin: MDPI Acedemic Open Access Publishing, June 2023
  1. 6th World Congress, Aluminium 2000, Florence, Italy: Recent Developments in Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys: Jonathan G. Perrett, Jonathan Martin, P. L. Thread Gill,  M. M. Z. Ahmed: 13-17 March, 2007
  2. Aeromat 2010, Bellevue, USA: FSW Process Enhancements: Mike Russell, Jonathan Martin, K. A. Beamish: June 2010
  3. ‘INALCO’ 2010, Eindhoven, Netherlands: Discovery Invention and Innovation of Friction Technologies – for the Aluminium Industries, 11th International Aluminium Conference: Wayne M Thomas, Jonathan Martin, C.S. Wiesner: 23-25 June, 2010
  4. 12th World Conference on Titanium, Beijing, China: A Microstructure and Crystallographic Texture Investigation of Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Welding of Ti-6Al-4V:  Xiaoqing Jiang, B. P. Wynne, Jonathan Martin: June 2011
  5. 10th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Beijing, China: New Techniques: Robotic Friction Stir Welding: S. Wei, J. Martin, May 2014
  6. 10th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Beijing, China: The Effect of Tool Geometry on the Microstructure and Crystallographic Texture of Thick Section Friction Stir Welded Aluminium: M. M. Z. Ahmed, B. P. Wynne, W Rainforth, P. L. Threadgill, J Martin, A Addison: May 2014
  7. SEEIIW2015, Romania: Robotic FSW for Three-Dimensional Components: Jeroen De Backer, Sam Wei, Jonathan Martin: June 2015
  8. 11th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Cambridge, UK: Robotic Stationary Shoulder FSW: Benefits and Limitations: Jeroen De Backer, Jonathan Martin, Sam Wei: May 2016
  9. ECSSMET 2018, Noordwijk, Netherlands : Friction Stir Welding of Fibre Reinforced Titanium Composites for Aerospace Structures: J. Martin, C. Blacker, K. Beamish, A. Makaya: June 2018

Conference Presentations

  1. 7th International Conference on Trends in Welding Research Pine Mountain, Georgia, USA: Advances in FSW: 16-20 May, 2005
  2. 8th International Welding Symposium, Kyoto, Japan: Floating Bobbin Tool Friction Stir Welding: 16-18 November, 2008
  3. ONR Friction Stir S & T PI Review Monterey, USA: Novel FSW Techniques: 26-28 October, 2010, Invited speaker
  4. TWI China Seminar: FSW Training and TWI Support,  FSW QA and Licensing ,FSW Thick Section Update, FSW Steels Update, FSW Future Developments: Xian, China: November, 2010, Invited speaker
  5. TWI Japanese Seminar, Tokyo, Japan:  FSW Training and TWI Support, FSW QA and Licensing, FSW Thick Section Update, FSW Steels Update, FSW Future Developments: 30 November, 2010,Invited speaker
  6. NIRO Japanese Seminar, Kobe, Japan: FSW Training and TWI Support, FSW QA and Licensing: December,2010, Invited speaker
  7. 1st Brazilian Symposium in Friction Stir Welding and Processing, Gramado, Brazil: Novel FSW Techniques: October 2011, Invited speaker
  8. Titanium Ship Structures Summit, New Orleans, USA: Friction Stir Welding of Titanium Alloys: 7-9 November, 2011, Invited speaker
  9. TMS 2011 Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San Diego, California: Friction Stir Welding of Industrial Steels: 27 February – 3 March, 2011
  10. 2nd International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding in China, Beijing, China: Latest Progress of Friction Stir Welding in TWI, 18-19 October, 2012, Invited speaker
  11. TMS 2013 142nd Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, USA: Comparison between Friction Stir and Submerged Arc Welding applied to Joining DH36 and EH36 Shipbuilding Steel: 3-7 March, 2013
  12. 1st International Joint Symposium on Joining and Welding (IJS-JW 2013), Osaka, Japan: Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Welding: 6-8 November, 2013, Invited speaker
  13. Fabtech, Atlanta, USA: FSW Technology for Marine Applications: 13 November, 2014
  14. The Third International Conference and Exhibition, “Aluminium -21/ JOINING OF STRUCTURES,” St Petersburg, Russia: FSW Technology for Marine Applications: 2-4 December, 2014
  15. TMS 2015 144th Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA: FSW Technology for Marine Applications: 15-19 March, 2015
  16. Aichi Symposium, Aichi, Japan: Dissimilar Materials Joining– Problems and Solutions: July 2014, Invited speaker
  17. TWI Annual Conference, Cambridge, UK: Friction Stir Welding: 8 June, 2016, Invited speaker
  18. 1st Edition of CII Conference on Welding 2016 Welding Innovation, Challenges and Application in India, Mumba, India: 16 November, 2016, Invited speaker
  19. 10th International Conference on Trends in Welding Research and 9th International Welding Symposium of Japan Welding Society (9WS) Tokyo, Japan: Effective Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys: 11-14 October, 2016
  20. TMS 2017 146th Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA: Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys—New Techniques: 26 February – 2 March, 2017
  21. IIW Commission III - 2017, Shanghai, China: Simultaneous Double Sided Friction Stir Welding of Thick Section Aluminium Alloys: 28 June, 2017
  22. TWI Japanese Seminar FSW, Tokyo, Japan: Friction Stir Welding : Recent Developments and Applications: Latest FSW Innovations: FSW of titanium – Update: 28 November,2017, Invited speaker
  23. NIRO Japanese Seminar FSW, Kobe, Japan: Friction Stir Welding: Recent Developments and Applications: 30 November, 2017, Invited speaker
  24. ECSSMET 2018, Noordwijk, Netherlands : Friction Stir Welding of Fibre Reinforced Titanium Composites for Aerospace Structures: J. Martin, C. Blacker, K. Beamish, A. Makaya: June, 2018
  25. TMS, San Antonio: Assessing the Performance of Aluminium Alloy Heat Exchangers Manufactured by Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Channelling, February 2019
  26. INALCO 2019, Tokyo 2019: Stationary Shoulder Friction Stir Channelling: A New Manufacturing Process Joao Gandra, Jonathan Martin
  27. TMS 2021: Virtual: Advances in High Temperature FSW – Single Use Tools
  28. IIW 2022, Tokyo 2022: The Development of Friction Stir Welding of Steel for the Fabrication and Underwater Repair of Ships: July, 2022
  29. Joint International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding and Processing, Lüneburg, Germany: Developments in Steel FSW for Marine Applications, September, 2022
  30. TMS 2023 Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San Diego, California, USA: Advances in Steel FSW: March, 2023
  31. TMS 2023 Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San Diego, California, USA: Assessing the Performance of Liquid Cooled Plates for Inverter Stacks Produced by CoreFlow: March, 2023
  32. 13th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, Kobe, Japan: eLOP: J. Martin, May, 2024

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