SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- FRICTION STIR WELDING RFI
- Notice Date
- 3/31/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 333992
— Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall SpaceFlight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM10Z003L
- Response Due
- 4/30/2010
- Archive Date
- 3/31/2011
- Point of Contact
- Lizette M Kummer, Contracting Officer, Phone 256-544-3457, Fax 256-544-5028, Email Lizette.M.Kummer@nasa.gov - Roxanne C. Melton, Contracting Officer, Phone 256-544-6561, Fax 256-544-9081, Email roxanne.c.melton@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Lizette M Kummer
(Lizette.M.Kummer@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NASA Request For InformationFeasible Technologies And Tools For The Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Of Friction StirWelded (FSW) ComponentsIntroductionThe Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) team supportsMSFC spaceflight hardware by using the best available NDE tools, which are applied tomaterials and structures to verify the required integrity and to detect characteristicflaws, discontinuities, and other defects in a structure or component, not normallydetectable by the naked-eye, in such a manner that the test does not harm the material inany way. This evaluation of a part or component is accomplished without causing physicalor chemical changes to the part or component, or otherwise impairing its adequacy foroperational service. This capability spans both metallic and composite/non-metallicmaterials and structures.Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-phase method to join two metal surfaces withoutmelting. It uses frictional heating combined with high forging pressure to producehigh-strength bonds. The technique does not create toxic fumes, requires no consumables,and allows welds to be made on aluminum alloys that cannot be readily fusion arc welded. Because of these advantages, as well as the adoption of aluminum-lithium alloycombinations (2195/2195 and 2195/2219), NASA has begun using FSW in more construction inthe past decade. However, the technique is open to new and difficult to diagnose defectsin the welded materials.The NDE team is seeking to improve its capabilities to detect FSW defects, particularlylaminar-type and low-volume defects. Sub-surface tears and kissing bonds are currentlythe two largest challenges for the NDE team; however improved detection is desired forall types of defects. Because much of the NDE work is done in the field, the team is alsoseeking techniques and instruments that will enable improved field-testing.In order to facilitate a better understanding of how defects are created during variousFSW techniques, a study is being planned to help determine how the defects affect thewelded material and which defects are mission-critical subsequently causing breach of thepressure vessel and catastrophic loss of the vehicleScope of ActivityThe MSFC NDE Team is soliciting information through this RFI for FSW defects data. Thisinformation will be used in support of the analysis, design, manufacturing and testing ofcurrent and future work for launch vehicles, spacecraft, and associated subsystemsinvolving FSW. NASA is seeking existing FSW effects of defects data that encompasses the materials andweld types, thus saving the Agency the time and expense of recreating this defect data. Desired Technical InformationThe three specific techniques seeking information on are self-reacting friction stirwelding, conventional friction stir welding and friction plugs. The alloys used arealuminum-lithium alloy combinations (2195/2195 and 2195/2219). The alloys thicknessesrange from 0.25 to 0.60. The MSFC NDE Team has specific interest in the following technical information:Types of defects created during friction stir welding, self-reacting frictionstir welding, and plug weldingMethods of detecting and evaluating the size, depth, etc. of the defectsMethods of creating specific defects with consistency (volume, cluster, depth,etc.). Variety of tests and methods to determine what constitutes a critical effect ontest material Any type of commercial-off-the-shelf applications and software for FSW defectdata Potential industries benefiting from and industry uses for defect data Summary of resources including networks, background and experience of personnel,facility descriptions, or other assets that might be used to support the MSFC NDE Teamrelative to the application of NDE processes and techniques used in FSW defect data.Description of available facilities for the creation of FSW defect test panelswith a minimum length of 24 inches to be used by the MSFC NDE Team.ResponsesOrganizations able to supply relevant information should submit such information no laterthan 11:59 PM Central Standard Time, on April 30, 2010. RFI submissions will be acceptedas email attachments only, addressed to shaun.w.canter@nasa.gov with FSW RFI Responsein the subject line. The file format should not exceed 15 pages, should use single space,12-point, Times New Roman format. The following file naming convention should be used;Friction Stir Welding RFI.Although all comments received will be carefully reviewed and considered for inclusion inany possible later Agency action, the Government does not desire to enter into a formalcontractual arrangement at this time. Respondents will not be notified of the results ofthe review.NASA will not publicly disclose proprietary information obtained as a result of the RFI.To the full extent that it is protected by law and regulations, information identified bya respondent as Proprietary or Confidential will be kept confidential. This RFI is being used to obtain information for planning purposes only and theGovernment does not presently intend to award a contract at this time. As stipulated inFAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be acceptedby the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is subject to FAR 52.215-3.Contacts:For further information please contact the following:a. Procurement Point of ContactName: Shaun CanterTitle: Contract Specialist, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Phone: 256-544-1632Fax: 256-544-5028Email: shaun.w.canter@nasa.govb. Technical Point of ContactName: Mike SuitsTitle: Materials EngineerPhone: 256-544-8336Email: mike.suits@nasa.gov
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