Empirical Dynamic Modeling of Friction Stir Welding Processes

Author(s):  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Prabhanjana Kalya ◽  
Robert G. Landers ◽  
K. Krishnamurthy

Current friction stir welding (FSW) process modeling research is mainly concerned with the detailed analysis of local effects such as material flow, heat generation, etc. These detailed thermomechanical models are typically solved using finite element or finite difference schemes and require substantial computational effort to determine temperature, forces, etc., at a single point in time, or for a very short time range. Dynamic models describing the total forces acting on the tool throughout the entire welding process are required for the design of feedback control strategies and improved process planning and analysis. In this paper, empirical models relating the process parameters (i.e., plunge depth, travel speed, and rotation speed) to the process variables (i.e., axial, path, and normal forces) are developed to understand their dynamic relationships. First, the steady-state relationships between the process parameters and the process variables are constructed, and the relative importance of each process parameter on each process variable is determined. Next, the dynamic characteristics of the process variables are determined using recursive least-squares. The results indicate the steady-state relationship between the process parameters and the process variables is well characterized by a nonlinear power relationship, and the dynamic responses are well characterized by low-order linear equations. Experiments are conducted that validate the developed FSW dynamic models.

Author(s):  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Prabhanjana Kalya ◽  
Robert G. Landers ◽  
K. Krishnamurthy

Current Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process modeling research is concerned with the detailed analysis of local effects such as material flow, heat generation, etc. These detailed thermo-mechanical models are typically solved using finite element or finite difference schemes and require substantial computational effort to determine temperature, forces, etc. at a single point in time. Dynamic models describing the total forces acting on the tool throughout the entire welding process are required for the design of feedback control strategies and improved process planning and analysis. In this paper, empirical models relating the process parameters (i.e., plunge depth, traverse rate, and rotation speed) to the process variables (i.e., axial, traverse, and lateral forces) are developed to understand their dynamic relationship. First, the steady-state relationship between the process parameters and variables is constructed, and the relative importance of each process parameter on each process variable is determined. Next, the dynamic process response characteristics are determined using Recursive Least-Squares. The results indicate that the steady-state relationship between the process parameters and variables is well characterized by a nonlinear power relationship, and the dynamic responses are well characterized by low-order linear equations. Experiments are conducted that validate the developed FSW dynamic models.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1146 ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Adrian Constantin ◽  
Ana Boşneag ◽  
Eduard Niţu ◽  
Lia Nicoleta Boţilă

Welding copper and its alloys is usually difficult to achieve by conventional fusion welding processes because of high thermal diffusivity of the copper, which is at least 10 times higher than most steel alloys, in addition to this, there are the well-known disadvantages of conventional fusion welding represented by necessity of using alloying elements, a shielding gas and a clean surface. To overcome these inconveniences, Friction Stir Welding (FSW), a solid state joining process that relies on frictional heating and plastic deformation, is being explored as a feasible welding process. In order to achieve an increased welding speed and a reduction in tool wear, this process is assisted by another one (TIG) which generates and adds heat to the process. The research includes two experiments for the FSW process and one experiment for tungsten inert gas assisted FSW process. The process parameters that varied were the rotational speed of the tool [rpm] and the welding speed [mm/min] while the compressive force remained constant. The purpose of this paper is to correlate the evolution of temperature, tensile strength, elongation and microscopic aspect with the linear position on the joint (local process parameters) for each experimental case and then make comparisons between them, and to identify and present the set of process parameters that has the best mechanical properties for this material.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 512-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Meshram ◽  
Madhusudhan Reddy

Heat treatable aluminium alloy AA2219 is widely used for aerospace applications, welded through gas tungsten and gas metal arc welding processes. Welds of AA2219 fabricated using a fusion welding process suffers from poor joint properties or welding defects due to melting and re-solidification. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process and hence free from any solidification related defects. However, FSW also results in defects which are not related to solidification but due to improper process parameter selection. One of the important process parameters, i.e., tool tilt angle plays a critical role in material flow during FSW, controlling the size and location of the defects. Effect of tool tilt angle on material flow and defects in FSW is ambiguous. A study is therefore taken to understand the role of tool tilt angle on FSW defects. Variation in temperature, forces, and torque generated during FSW as a result of different tool tilt angles was found to be responsible for material flow in the weld, controlling the weld defects. An intermediate tool tilt angle (1o-2o) gives weld without microscopic defect in 7 mm thick AA2219 for a given set of other process parameters. At this tool tilt angle, x-force, and Z- force is balanced with viscosity and the material flow strain rate sufficient for the material to flow and fill internal voids or surface defects in the weld.


2013 ◽  
Vol 554-557 ◽  
pp. 1083-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Buffa ◽  
Livan Fratini ◽  
Matthias Schneider ◽  
Marion Merklein

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process patented in 1991 by TWI; initially adopted to weld aluminum alloys, is now being successfully used also for magnesium alloys, copper and steels. The wide diffusion the process is having is due to the possibility to weld materials traditionally considered difficult to be welded or “unweldable” by traditional fusion welding processes due to peculiar thermal and chemical material properties. Additionally, the process allows welding a wide range of sheet thickness (up to 50mm) avoiding typical fusion welding processes defects, like cavities and porosities, with no shielding gas, filling material or joint preparation. Recently, research is focusing on titanium alloys thanks to the high interest that such materials are getting from the industry due to the extremely high strength-weight ratio together with good corrosion resistance properties. Welding of titanium alloys by traditional fusion welding techniques presents several difficulties due to high material reactivity resulting in bonding with oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen with consequent embrittlement of the joint. In this way FSW can represent a cost effective and high quality solution. A few studies have been developed on the FSW of titanium alloys butt joints, while there is a complete lack of knowledge as far as different joint morphologies are regarded (lap joints, T joints, etc.). In the paper the results of an experimental campaign on lap joints made out of thin Ti-6Al-4V sheets are presented. The effect of the main process parameters on the micro and macro mechanical properties has been investigated and related to the microstructural transformations occurring during the process because of the thermo-mechanical action of the tool.


Author(s):  
Shubham Verma ◽  
Joy Prakash Misra ◽  
Meenu Gupta

The present study deals with the application of sequential procedure (i.e. steepest ascent) to obtain the optimum values of process parameters for conducting friction stir welding (FSW) experiments. A vertical milling machine is modified by fabricating fixture and tool ( H13 material) for performing FSW operation to join AA7039 plates. The steepest ascent technique is employed to design the experiments at different rotational speed, welding speed, and tilt angle. The ultimate tensile strength is considered as a performance characteristic for deciding the optimal levels. The mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of the joints are studied by executing tensile and microhardness tests. It is concluded from the graphical analysis of the steepest ascent technique that the optimal maximum and minimum values are 1812–1325 r/min for rotational speed, 43–26 mm/min for welding speed, and 2°–1.3° for tilt angle, respectively. Besides, optical microscope and scanning electron microscope are utilized for microstructural and fractographic analyses for a better understanding of the process.


Author(s):  
Debtanay Das ◽  
Swarup Bag ◽  
Sukhomay Pal ◽  
M. Ruhul Amin

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is widely accepted by industry because of multiple advantages such as low-temperature process, green technology, and capable of producing good quality weld joints. Extensive research has been conducted to understand the physical process and material flow during FSW. The published works mainly discussed the effects of various process parameters on temperature distribution and microstructure formation. There are few works on the prediction of defect formation from a physics-based model. However, these models ignore chip formation or surface morphology and material loss during the FSW process. In the present work, a fully coupled 3D thermo-mechanical model is developed to predict the chip formation and surface morphology during welding. The effects of various process parameters on surface morphology are also studied using the current model. Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) technique is used to model the FSW process using a commercial software ABAQUS. The model is validated by comparing the results in published literature. The current model is capable of predicting the material flow out of the workpiece and thus enables the visualization of the chip formation. The developed model can extensively be used to predict the surface quality of the friction stir welded joints.


2018 ◽  
Vol 178 ◽  
pp. 03003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Bosneag ◽  
Marius Adrian Constantin ◽  
Eduard Niţu ◽  
Monica Iordache

Friction Stir Welding, abbreviated FSW is a new and innovative welding process. This welding process is increasingly required, more than traditional arc welding, in industrial environment such us: aeronautics, shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, railways, general fabrication, nuclear, military, robotics and computers. FSW, more than traditional arc welding, have a lot of advantages, such us the following: it uses a non-consumable tool, realise the welding process without melting the workpiece material, can be realised in all positions (no weld pool), results of good mechanical properties, can use dissimilar materials and have a low environmental impact. This paper presents the results of experimental investigation of friction stir welding joints to three dissimilar aluminium alloy AA2024, AA6061 and AA7075. For experimenting the value of the input process parameters, the rotation speed and advancing speed were kept the same and the position of plates was variable. The exit date recorded in the time of process and after this, will be compared between them and the influence of position of plate will be identified on the welding seams properties and the best position of plates for this process parameters and materials.


2012 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. 206-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Liang Zhang ◽  
Bei Zhi Li ◽  
Xin Chao Zhang ◽  
Qing Xia Wang

Friction stir welding processes involve many variables. Engineers and operators often find it difficult to effectively design or control it. The objective of this work is to develop a friction stir welding platform of thin plates to improve welding quality and to increase production efficiency. The study is conducted by using finite element modeling and temperature field analysis technology to obtain optimization parameters, and using virtual instrument, multi-sensor data fusion to monitor the force of the stirring spindle. Experiment results show that the developed platform can reach the requirements of processing quality and is cost-effective.


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