The “Welding and Joining” Section of Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) features innovative research on the science, technology, and applications of welding, brazing, soldering, diffusion bonding, and other joining techniques used for metallic materials. This Section aims to deepen the understanding of joining processes and their influence on microstructure, mechanical performance, and long-term reliability.

Key areas of interest include welding metallurgy, the weldability of advanced alloys, solid-state and fusion welding, additive manufacturing and joining, joint design and modeling, residual stress and distortion analysis, and the inspection and quality assessment of joints.

We welcome contributions that include both foundational studies and applied research with industrial relevance, especially those addressing challenges in the automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

As all papers published in Metals are in open access format, and readers have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We invite you to explore our highly cited papers from 2023, listed below.

1. “Characterization of Vapor Capillary Geometry in Laser Beam Welding of Copper with 515 nm and 1030 nm Laser Beam Sources by Means of In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Imaging”
by Florian Kaufmann, Carola Forster, Marc Hummel, Alexander Olowinsky, Felix Beckmann, Julian Moosmann, Stephan Roth and Michael Schmidt
Metals 2023, 13(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010135
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/1/135

2. “Joining of Aluminum Alloy AA7075 and Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V through a Friction Stir Welding-Based Process”
by Francisco Dias, Gonçalo Cipriano, Arménio N. Correia, Daniel F. O. Braga, Pedro Moreira and Virgínia Infante
Metals 2023, 13(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020249
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/249

3. “Optimization of Bolted Joints: A Literature Review”
by Dario Croccolo, Massimiliano De Agostinis, Stefano Fini, Muhammad Yasir Khan, Mattia Mele and Giorgio Olmi
Metals 2023, 13(10), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101708
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/10/1708

4. “Quality Monitoring of Resistance Spot Welding Based on a Digital Twin”
by Jianwei Dong, Jianming Hu and Zhen Luo
Metals 2023, 13(4), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040697
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/4/697

5. “Solid-State Welding of Aluminum to Magnesium Alloys: A Review”
by Hao Chen, Zhengqiang Zhu, Yunming Zhu, Liang Sun and Yukun Guo
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081410
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/8/1410

6. “Effects of Beam Shape on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties during Thin-Foil Laser Welding”
by Danbi Song, Ryoonhan Kim, Kwangdeok Choi, Dongsig Shin and Sujin Lee
Metals 2023, 13(5), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050916
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/916

7. “Evaluation of Tungsten—Steel Solid-State Bonding: Options and the Role of CALPHAD to Screen Diffusion Bonding Interlayers”
by Ishtiaque Karim Robin, Tim Gräning, Ying Yang, Syeda Bushra Haider, Eric Andrew Lass, Yutai Katoh and Steven John Zinkle
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081438
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/8/1438

8. “Numerical Simulation of the Donor-Assisted Stir Material for Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloys and Carbon Steel”
by Joseph Maniscalco, Abdelmageed A. Elmustafa, Srinivasa Bhukya and Zhenhua Wu
Metals 2023, 13(1), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010164
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/1/164

9. “Effect of Tool Rotation Direction on Mechanical Strength of Single Lap Friction Stir Welded Joints between AA5083 Aluminum Alloy and S355J0 Steel for Maritime Applications”
by Guido Di Bella, Chiara Borsellino, Amani Khaskhoussi and Edoardo Proverbio
Metals 2023, 13(2), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020411
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/411

10. “Role of Carbon Content on Microstructure Evolution and Impact Toughness in Coarse-Grained Heat-Affected Zone of High-Strength Steel”
by Xuelin Wang, Zhenjia Xie, Wenjuan Su and Chengjia Shang
Metals 2023, 13(1), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010106
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/1/106