Thermo-mechanical analysis of linear welding stage in friction stir welding - influence of welding parameters

Abstract

The influence of friction stir welding (FSW) parameters on thermo-mechanical behaviour of the material during welding is analysed. An aluminium alloy is considered (Al 2024 T351), and different rotating speed and welding speed are applied. Finite element model consists of the plate (Al alloy), backing plate and welding tool, and it is formed and solved in software package Simulia Abaqus. The influence of the welding conditions on material behaviour is taken into account by application of the Johnson-Cook material model. The rotation of the tool affects the results: if increased, it contributes to an increase of friction-generated heat intensity. The other component of the generated heat, the plastic deformation of the material, is negligibly changed. When the welding speed is increased, the intensity of friction-generated heat decreases, while the heat generation due to plastic deforming increases. Combined, these two effects cause small change of the total heat generation. For the same welded joint length, the plate welded by lower speed will be heated more intensively. The changes of the heat generation influence both the temperature field and reaction force, which are also considered.