Patent ID: 8720060

Claim:
A transition duct for coupling a combustor and a turbine section of a gas turbine, the transition duct comprising: a transition duct skin, the transition duct skin comprising a first surface section, a second surface section, and a clinch welded joint connecting the first surface section and the second surface section, wherein the first surface section comprises a first perpendicular surface perpendicular to an adjacent first part of the transition duct skin, and the second surface section comprises a second perpendicular surface perpendicular to an adjacent second part of the transition duct skin, and the clinch welded joint joining the first perpendicular surface and the second perpendicular surface, the first perpendicular surface and the second perpendicular surface being in substantially flat contact with each other, wherein the adjacent first part of the transition duct skin and the adjacent second part of the transition duct skin each form a part of the inner surface of the transition duct skin.