Numerical Analysis of In-Process Heat Transfer and Material Flow During Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding Process

Author(s):  
Gaoqiang Chen ◽  
Xun Liu ◽  
Qingyu Shi

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) has been successfully applied to join dissimilar materials in engineering applications. Fundamental understanding on the underlying physical principles of the dissimilar FSW process is generally required to achieve strong and reliable joints. In this study, we aim to develop a theoretical and numerical model based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in order to analyze the in-process heat transfer and material flow during the dissimilar FSW of aluminum and steel. The model describes the coupling behavior between the material distribution, thermal-mechanical properties, interfacial friction, heat generation and transfer. To account for the different material behaviors in stirring zone, a VOF-based approach is adopted. In this paper, preliminary numerical simulation is conducted. Simulation results show that the current modeling approach has the capability to capture the material mixing during the dissimilar FSW of aluminum and steel. The predicted temperature field is shown to be asymmetrical, which is attributed to the different properties of aluminum and steel. The predicted thermal history agrees with the experimental measurements in the literature.

2014 ◽  
Vol 622-623 ◽  
pp. 532-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Buffa

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process used to weld difficult to be welded or unweldable materials as aluminum alloys. In the last years other materials have been successfully tested as magnesium, titanium and nickel based alloys. Mixed joints can be obtained by FSW but issues arise in the correct choice of the process parameters. In the paper a numerical model is presented for the prediction of the main field variables distribution and the occurring material flow in FSW of dissimilar AA6061 and AZ31 butt joints. Important insights are obtained on the effect of the mutual position of the two materials with respect to the advancing and retreating side of the joint has been highlighted.


2013 ◽  
Vol 774-776 ◽  
pp. 1155-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Cong He

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process where no gross melting of the material being welded takes place. Numerical modelling of the FSW process can provide realistic prediction of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the process. Latest literature relating to finite element analysis (FEA) of thermo-mechanical behaviour of FSW process is reviewed in this paper. The recent development in thermo-mechanical modelling of FSW process is described with particular reference to two major factors that influence the performance of FSW joints: material flow and temperature distribution. The main thermo-mechanical modelling used in FSW process are discussed and illustrated with brief case studies from the literature.


2011 ◽  
Vol 189-193 ◽  
pp. 3266-3269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Hua Chen ◽  
Peng Wei ◽  
Quan Ni ◽  
Li Ming Ke

Titanium alloy TC1 and Aluminum alloy LF6 were jointed by friction stir welding (FSW), and the influence of process parameters on formation of weld surface, cross-section morphology and tensile strength were studied. The results show that, Titanium and Aluminum dissimilar alloy is difficult to be joined by FSW, and some defects such as cracks and grooves are easy to occur. When the rotational speed of stir head(n) is 750r/min and 950r/min, the welding speed(v) is 118mm/min or 150mm/min, a good formation of weld surface can be obtained, but the bonding of titanium/aluminum interface in the cross-section of weld joint is bad when n is 750r/min which results in a low strength joint. When n is 950r/min and v is 118mm/min,the strength of the FSW joint of Titanium/Aluminum dissimilar materials is 131MPa which is the highest.


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.


Author(s):  
Mohd Ridha Muhamad ◽  
Sufian Raja ◽  
Mohd Fadzil Jamaludin ◽  
Farazila Yusof ◽  
Yoshiaki Morisada ◽  
...  

Abstract Dissimilar materials joining between AZ31 magnesium alloy and SPHC mild steel with Al-Mg powder additives were successfully produced by friction stir welding process. Al-Mg powder additives were set in a gap between AZ31 and SPHC specimen's butt prior to welding. The experiments were performed for different weight percentages of Al-Mg powder additives at welding speeds of 25 mm/min, 50 mm/min and 100 mm/min with a constant tool rotational speed of 500 rpm. The effect of powder additives and welding speed on tensile strength, microhardness, characterization across welding interface and fracture morphology were investigated. Tensile test results showed significant enhancement of tensile strength of 150 MPa for 10% Al and Mg (balance) powder additives welded joint as compared to the tensile strength of 125 MPa obtained for welded joint without powder additives. The loss of aluminium in the alloy is compensated by Al-Mg powder addition during welding under a suitable heat input condition identified by varying welding speeds. Microstructural analysis revealed that the Al-Mg powder was well mixed and dispersed at the interface of the joint at a welding speed of 50 mm/min. Intermetallic compound detected in the welding interface contributed to the welding strength.


Author(s):  
Toshiaki Yasui ◽  
Yuki Ogura ◽  
Xu Huilin ◽  
F. Farrah Najwa ◽  
Daichi Sugimoto ◽  
...  

Abstract For the Friction stir welding (FSW) between aluminum and steel is important to fabricate vehicles with light weight and high strength for safety at low cost. For the fabrication of sound weld, it is necessary to control the material flow during FSW. In this study, the material flow during FSW was elucidated by numerical simulation by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and simulation experiment by transparent Poly-vinyle chloride (PVC) as simulant of aluminum and tracer material. Based on this material flow analysis, several shapes of welding tool were examined for control of material flow during FSW. Scroll shoulder is effective for enhancement of stirring zone by increasing material velocity around the probe. Flute and fine screw probe promote the material flow in depth and horizontal direction. The welding tool with scroll shoulder and flute and fine screw probe achieved sound weld with highest tensile strength of 120.4 MPa.


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

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) is widely recognized green manufacturing process capable of producing good quality welded joints at temperature lower than the melting point. However, most of the works is focused on to the establishment of the process parameters for a defect-free joint. There is a lack to understand the formation of defects from physical basis and visualization of the same, which is otherwise difficult to predict by means of simple experiments. The conventional models do not predict chip formation and surface morphology by accounting the material loss during the process. Hence, a 3D finite element based thermo-mechanical model is developed following Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) approach to understand surface morphology by triggering material flow associated with tool-material interaction. In the present quasi-static analysis, the mass scaling factor is explored to make the model computationally feasible by varying the FSW parameter of plunge depth. The simulated results are validated with experimentally measured temperature and surface morphology. In CEL approach, the material flow out of the workpiece enables the visualization of the chip formation, whereas small deformation predict the surface quality of the joint.


2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Santiago ◽  
Santiago Urquiza ◽  
Guillermo Lombera ◽  
Luis de Vedia

The process of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a welding method developed by the "The Welding Institute" (TWI) of England in 1991. The welding equipment consists of a tool that rotates and progresses along the joint of two restrained sheets. The joint is produced by frictional heating which causes the softening of both components into a viscous-plastic condition and also by the resultant flow between the sheets to be joined. Numerical Modeling of the process can provide realistic prediction of the main variables of the process, reducing the number of experimental tests, thus accelerating the design processes while reducing costs and optimizing the involved technological variables. In this study the friction stir welding process is modeled using a general purpose finite element based program, reproducing the material thermal map and the corresponding mass flow. Numerical thermal results are compared against experimental thermographic maps and numerical material flow results are compared with material flow visualization techniques, with acceptable concordance.


Author(s):  
Hosein Atharifar ◽  
Radovan Kovacevic

Minimizing consumed energy in friction stir welding (FSW) is one of the prominent considerations in the process development. Modifications of the FSW tool geometry might be categorized as the initial attempt to achieve a minimum FSW effort. Advanced tool pin and shoulder features as well as a low-conductive backing plate, high-conductive FSW tools equipped with cooling fins, and single or multi-step welding processes are all carried out to achieve a flawless weld with reduced welding effort. The outcomes of these attempts are considerable, primarily when the tool pin traditional designs are replaced with threaded, Trifiute or Trivex geometries. Nevertheless, the problem remains as to how an inclined tool affects the material flow characteristics and the loads applied to the tool. It is experimentally proven that a positive rake angle facilitates the traverse motion of the FSW tool; however, few computational evidences were provided. In this study, numerical material flow and heat transfer analysis are carried out for the presumed tool rake angle ranging from −4° to 4°. Afterwards, the effects of the tool rake angle to the dynamic pressure distribution, strain-rates, and velocity profiles are numerically computed. Furthermore, coefficients of drag, lift, and side force and moment applied to the tool from the visco-plastic material region are computed for each of the tool rake angles. Eventually, this paper confirms that the rake angle dramatically affects the magnitude of the loads applied to the FSW tool, and the developed advanced numerical model might be used to find optimum tool rake angle for other aluminum alloys.


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