Aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) have been widely used in many industrial fields thanks to their good plasticity, high thermal conductivity and excellent electrical conductivity. An effective joining of dissimilar Al and Cu materials can make full use of the special characteristics of these two metals. Friction stir spot welding (FSSW), as an efficient solid-state welding method suitable for joining of dissimilar metal materials, has great prospects in future industrial applications. In this paper, the FSSW studies on Al-Cu dissimilar materials are reviewed. The research progress and current status of Al-Cu FSSW are reviewed with respect to tool features, macroscopic characteristics of welded joints, microstructures, defects in welds and mechanical properties of joints. In addition, some suggestions on further study are put forward in order to promote the development and progress of Al-Cu FSSW studies in several respects: material flow, thermal history, addition of intermediate layer, auxiliary methods and functionalization of Al-Cu FSSW joint.

A new method of hybrid technology for controlling welding residual stress and distortion is proposed, which contains the transient thermal tensioning with two symmetrical heat sources ahead and the trailing intensive cooling with a cooling source behind the welding heat source during the welding process. Welding temperature, stress and distortion were compared and discussed under different welding processes by experimental and numerical methods. The results reveal that the hybrid technology adjusted the temperature field during welding and redistributed the longitudinal residual stress of welding joint. Thus, the welding residual distortion was reduced. Compared with conventional metal inert gas welding, the reductions of the welding residual stress and distortion of joint by the hybrid technology reached 65% and 58%, respectively.