Numerical analysis of friction stir welding process

Friction stir welding (FSW), which has several advantages over the conventional welding processes, is a solid-state welding process where no gross melting of the material being welded takes place. Despite significant advances over the last decade, the fundamental knowledge of thermomechanical processes during FSW is still not completely understood. To gain physical insight into the FSW process and the evaluation of the critical parameters, the development of models and simulation techniques is a necessity. In this article, the available literature on modeling of FSW has been reviewed followed by details of an attempt to understand the interaction between process parameters from a simulation study, performed using commercially available nonlinear finite element (FE) code DEFORM. The distributions of temperature, residual stress, strain, and strain rates were analyzed across various regions of the weld apart from material flow as a means of evaluating process efficiency and the quality of the weld. The distribution of process parameters is of importance in the prediction of the occurrence of welding defects, and to locate areas of concern for the metallurgist. The suitability of this modeling tool to simulate the FSW process has been discussed. The lack of the detailed material constitutive information and other thermal and physical properties at conditions such as very high strain rates and elevated temperatures seems to be the limiting factor while modeling the FSW process.     

On certain aspects of strain rate sensitivity of sheet metals

The formability of a material depends upon the strain hardening and strain rate hardening of the material. In this study, constitutive parameters using the power law constitutive equation are determined for six different strength steels and two aluminum alloys over different strain ranges, including approximations of the postuniform elongation range. Constitutive parameters are found to be different at different strain ranges. The strain hardening of steels increases with strain at low strain levels (less than 5%) and decreases at high strain levels (greater than 10%). Strain rate hardening decreases with strain for all steels and aluminum alloys. Uniform elongation depends only on strain hardening, and postuniform elongation depends only on strain rate hardening. However, the total elongation depends on both strain hardening and strain rate hardening.     

Al-Zn-Mg-Cu铝合金变温双级蠕变时效模型

针对Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金变温双级蠕变时效过程,建立了一种考虑蠕变应变与屈服强度的本构框架,通过实验数据的简单拟合方法获得了模型参数。模型不仅以简单的形式具备了处理蠕变时效过程中的应力松弛、强化响应和温度变化的能力,而且能够应用到有限元软件中模拟构件的蠕变量、屈服强度和回弹。模型结果不仅能够适应不同外加应力下实测的蠕变应变曲线,且有限元模拟结果与实测结果能够很好地吻合。     

Review on underwater friction stir welding: A variant of friction stir welding with great potential of improving joint properties

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding process which is capable of joining materials which are relatively difficult to be welded by fusion welding process. Further, this process is highly energy-efficient and environmental-friendly as compared to the fusion welding. Despite several advantages of FSW over fusion welding, the thermal cycles involved in FSW cause softening in joints generally in heat-treatable aluminum alloys (AAs) due to the dissolution or coarsening of the strengthening precipitates leading to decrease in mechanical properties. Underwater friction stir welding (UFSW) can be a process of choice to overcome these limitations. This process is suitable for alloys that are sensitive to heating during the welding and is widely used for heat-treatable AAs. The purpose of this article is to provide comprehensive literature review on current status and development of UFSW and its importance in comparison to FSW with an aim to discuss and summarize different aspects of UFSW. Specific attention is given to basic principle including material flow, temperature generation, process parameters, microstructure and mechanical properties. From the review, it is concluded that UFSW is an improved method compared with FSW for improving joint strength. Academicians, researchers and practitioners would be benefitted from this article as it compiles significantly important knowledge pertaining to UFSW.     

Establishing empirical relationships to predict grain size and tensile strength of friction stir welded AA 6061-T6 aluminium alloy joints

AA 6061-T6 aluminium alloy(Al-Mg-Si alloy) has gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of light weight structures requiring a high specific strength and good corrosion resistance.Compared with the fusion welding processes that are routinely used for joining structural aluminium alloys,friction stir welding(FSW) process is an emerging solid state joining process in which the material welded does not melt and recast.Joint strength is influenced by the grain size and tensile strength of the weld nugget region.Hence,an attempt was made to develop empirical relationships to predict grain size and tensile strength of friction stir welded AA 6061-T6 aluminium alloy joints.The empirical relationships are developed by response surface methodology(RSM) incorporating FSW tool and process parameters.A linear regression relationship was also established between grain size and tensile strength of the weld nugget of FSW joints.     

Computational Investigation of Hardness Evolution During Friction-Stir Welding of AA5083 and AA2139 Aluminum Alloys

A fully coupled thermo-mechanical finite-element analysis of the friction-stir welding (FSW) process developed in our previous work is combined with the basic physical metallurgy of two wrought aluminum alloys to predict/assess their FSW behaviors. The two alloys selected are AA5083 (a solid-solution strengthened and strain-hardened/stabilized Al-Mg-Mn alloy) and AA2139 (a precipitation hardened quaternary Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy). Both of these alloys are currently being used in military-vehicle hull structural and armor systems. In the case of non-age-hardenable AA5083, the dominant microstructure-evolution processes taking place during FSW are extensive plastic deformation and dynamic re-crystallization of highly deformed material subjected to elevated temperatures approaching the melting temperature. In the case of AA2139, in addition to plastic deformation and dynamic recrystallization, precipitates coarsening, over-aging, dissolution, and re-precipitation had to be also considered. Limited data available in the open literature pertaining to the kinetics of the aforementioned microstructure-evolution processes are used to predict variation in the material hardness throughout the various FSW zones of the two alloys. The computed results are found to be in reasonably good agreement with their experimental counterparts.     

Experimental study on Friction Stir Welding of copper metals

This study aimed to experimentally explore the thermal history of a workpiece undergoing Friction Stir Welding (FSW) involving butt joining with pure copper C11000. In the FSW experiments, K-type thermocouples were used to record the temperature history at different locations on workpiece. This data, combined with the preheating temperature, tool rotation speeds and tool moving speeds allowed parameters for a successful weld to be determined. Vickers hardness tests were conducted on the welds to evaluate the hardness distributions in the thermal–mechanical affected zone, heat affected zone and the base metal. Tensile tests were also carried out, and the tensile strength of the welded product was compared to that of the base metal. The appropriate temperatures for a successful FSW process were found to be between 460 °C and 530 °C. These experimental results and the process control of temperature histories can offer useful knowledge for a FSW based process of copper butt joining.     

Investigations on the Effects of the Tool Material,Geometry, and Tilt Angle on Friction Stir Welding of Pure Titanium

Friction stir welding (FSW) parameters, such as tool material, tool geometry, tilt angle, tool rotational speed, welding speed, and axial force play a major role in the weld quality of titanium alloys. Because of excessive erosion, tool material and geometry play the main roles in FSW of titanium alloys. Therefore, in the present work for the first time, tool material and geometry, tool tilt angle, cooling system and shielding gas effects on macrostructure, microstructure, and mechanical properties of pure titanium weld joint were investigated. Result of this research shows that Ti can be joined by the FSW, using a tool with a shoulder made of tungsten (W) and simple pin made of tungsten carbide (WC). The best conditions for welding were use of compressed air as a cooling system, tool tilt angle of 1°, and a stream of Argon as a shielding medium. Investigation on mechanical properties shows that the tensile strength and the yield strength of the welded joint in the best case could be similar to the corresponding strengths of the base metal.     

A Fully Coupled Thermomechanical Model of Friction Stir Welding(FSW) and Numerical Studies on Process Parameters of Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Joints

This paper presents a new thermomechanical model of friction stir welding which is capable of simulating the three major steps of friction stir welding(FSW) process, i.e., plunge, dwell, and travel stages. A rate-dependent Johnson–Cook constitutive model is chosen to capture elasto-plastic work deformations during FSW. Two different weld schedules(i.e., plunge rate, rotational speed, and weld speed) are validated by comparing simulated temperature profiles with experimental results. Based on this model, the influences of various welding parameters on temperatures and energy generation during the welding process are investigated. Numerical results show that maximum temperature in FSW process increases with the decrease in plunge rate, and the frictional energy increases almost linearly with respect to time for different rotational speeds. Furthermore, low rotational speeds cause inadequate temperature distribution due to low frictional and plastic dissipation energy which eventually results in weld defects. When both the weld speed and rotational speed are increased, the contribution of plastic dissipation energy increases significantly and improved weld quality can be expected.     

A flow-partitioned deformation zone model for defect formation during friction stir welding

A friction stir welding (FSW) metalworking model is proposed which partitions flow through distinct deformation zone geometries around the pin probe and beneath the shoulder. These geometries form under the effects of the temperature field, constitutive properties, strain rate and pin tool geometry in these zones. Inadequacies in this flow are related to specific FSW defect types. An initial volume of material equal to the projected area of the pin tool probe is assumed to enter the FSW processing zone. An excess material function is presented in terms of controllable process parameters to describe flowing material added to this initial volume due to temperature and pressure conditions around the pin tool. A forcing function defines the state of applied stresses which partitions the flow through these distinct zones to fill the cavity behind the pin tool. These are equated using the equations of motion for a multi-body dynamic system. Only the concept of a flow-partitioned deformation zone model is presented in this paper. Experimental validation of the model is in progress and the results will be made available in the future.     

Experimental study on temperature distributions within the workpiece during friction stir welding of aluminum alloys

This study aims to experimentally explore the thermal histories and temperature distributions in a workpiece during a friction stir welding (FSW) process involving the butt joining of aluminum 6061-T6. Different types of thermocouple layout are devised to measure the temperature histories during FSW at different locations on the workpiece in the welding direction. Successful welding processes are achieved by appropriately controlling the maximum temperatures during the welding process. Regression analyses by the least squares method are used to predict the temperatures at the joint line. A second-order polynomial curve is found to best fit the experimental temperature values in the width direction of the workpiece. The Vickers hardness test is conducted on the welds to evaluate the hardness distribution in the thermal-mechanical affected zone, the heat affected zone, and the base metal zone. Tensile tests are also carried out, and the tensile strength of the welded product is compared with that of the base metal.     

热源同轴辅助搅拌摩擦焊工艺特性分析

研究了激光同轴辅助搅拌摩擦焊中激光/搅拌摩擦焊的热量分配对不同系列铝合金焊缝成形、接头力学性能及显微组织的影响,并得到了相应的优化能量分配条件.结果表明,加入激光辅助热源可有效扩大工艺参数窗口,特别是流动性差的5A06和2219铝合金,焊接速度可提升30%以上.激光辅助热源对6061及5A06铝合金焊接接头性能影响较小,对2219铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头的性能影响明显,焊接热输入增大后,接头性能下降,但总得来说,加入激光辅助热源能够在更小的焊接热输入下获得更高的接头性能.     

Experimental investigation of the friction stir welding dynamics of 6000 series aluminum alloys

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a resource-efficient and environmental-friendly solid state joining process that allows to combine especially aluminum alloys with superior joint quality. Therefore, FSW is perfectly suitable for light-weight applications. The interaction of material, welding tool and machine during welding results in process forces which show characteristic periodic variations. The reasons for this periodicity, however, are not completely understood yet. Since the welding force feedback data can presumably be used for online process monitoring, a deeper understanding of the processes leading to the friction stir welding dynamics is necessary. To reach this goal, an approach for a systematic investigation of the friction stir welding dynamics using postulated hypotheses is presented in this work. The hypotheses combine insights from literature as well as results from own welding experiments. In the experiments two aluminum alloys, EN AW 6016 and EN AW 6111, in tempers T4 and T6 each, were friction stir welded. The welding machine, the tool as well as the welding parameters were held constant for each material. The process forces, accelerations and spindle deflection were measured for each weld and additionally the joints were inspected visually for flaws. It was shown that the height of the process forces correlates loosely with the yield strength of the materials. The frequencies occurring during welding are identified to mainly consist of the spindle rotating speed and multiples thereof. The acceleration measurements are found to be a suitable way to identify welds with irregular surfaces, i.e. they provide a method for online process monitoring regarding the weld surface quality. Combining the findings from literature and insights from the experiments, five hypotheses are developed that allow a systematic investigation of the dynamics of the friction stir welding process. Each hypothesis covers a phenomenon that can lead to dynamic effects. The hypotheses consider not only the process but the whole system of process and machine. In addition to the hypotheses, a method to prove or disprove them, where the specific effects are triggered intentionally, is presented.     

Friction stir welding industrialisation and research status

This paper intends to provide a perspective on the current development of the friction stir welding (FSW) technology. The industrialisation of the technology and related research were assessed by analysing patent and scientific publications databases. The literature reviews on FSW and related technologies were also collected and analysed. The work performed enabled to understand the main areas of industry/research where the FSW technology is being applied/explored and the geographical distribution of the main players in its implementation/research. The main FSW process variants, the materials already welded/processed using it, as well as the applications envisaged, were also analysed. The data collected shows that the FSW technology, originally developed for the joining of light alloys, became a research tool with interest in several fields of engineering and material science.     

Microstructural mapping of friction stir welded AA 7075-T6 and AlMgSc alloys using electrical conductivity

Abstract

AlMgSc and AA 7075-T6 alloys find applications in the aeronautic industry due to their lightweight associated with high mechanical strength and fatigue resistance. Both alloys have poor weldability when joined by fusion welding processes, which is overcome with the use of friction stir welding (FSW). Recent research work shows that electrical conductivity field analysis can be used as a material characterisation technique for solid state material welding exhibiting a microstructure gradient. This study aims to apply electrical conductivity field analysis to bead on plate FSW to identify the potential application of this technique to map and characterise microstructural transformations. The FSW was conducted on AlMgSc and AA 7075-T6 plates with different parameters, and electrical conductivity measurements were performed at half thickness, complemented by other techniques as hardness, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. A good correlation was observed among electrical conductivity field, microstructure and hardness of different zones in FSW beads.     

Review of recent trends in friction stir welding process of aluminum alloys and aluminum metal matrix composites

Welding is a vital component of several industries such as automotive, aerospace, robotics, and construction. Without welding, these industries utilize aluminum alloys for the manufacturing of many components or systems. However, fusion welding of aluminum alloys is challenging due to several factors, including the presence of non-heat-treatable alloys, porosity, solidification, and liquation of cracks. Many manufacturers adopt conventional in-air friction stir welding (FSW) to weld metallic alloys and dissimilar materials. Many researchers reported the drawbacks of this traditional in-air FSW technique in welding metallic and polymeric materials in general and aluminum alloys and aluminum matrix composites in specific. A number of FSW techniques were developed recently, such as underwater friction stir welding (UFSW), vibrational friction-stir welding (VFSW), and others, for welding of aluminum alloy joints to overcome the issues of welding using conventional FSW. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to summarize the recent trends in FSW process of aluminum alloys and aluminum metal matrix composites (Al MMCs). Also, it discusses the effect of welding parameters of the traditional and state-of-the-art developed FSW techniques on the welding quality and strength of aluminum alloys and Al MMCs. Comparison among the techniques and advantages and limitations of each are considered. The review suggests that VFSW is a viable option for welding aluminum joints due to its energy efficiency, economic cost, and versatile modifications that can be employed based on the application. This review also illustrated that significantly less attention has been paid to FSW of Al-MMCs and considerable attention is demanded to produce qualified joint.     

焊接热循环和变形历史相关的A7N01-T6本构关系

建立了与焊接热循环温度和热变形历史相关的铝合金本构关系,利用MSC.MARC二次开发接口和Fortran语言,以塑性变形有限元计算增量理论为基础,开发了适用于焊接过程的材料本构关系用户子程序.采用弹塑性(混合硬化)和蠕变性质(应变软化)描述低温应变硬化特征和高温动态回复及再结晶引起的应变软化特征,不同温度的本构关系形式一致而参数不同.结果表明,焊件的残余应力和应变结果与理论结果吻合良好.与采用理想弹塑性本构关系相比,采用新开发的本构关系,高温应变软化和低温应变硬化导致等效残余应力基本不变,纵向残余压缩塑性应变较大,相应的焊接残余变形也较大.     

Modified material constitutive models for serrated chip formation simulations and experimental validation in machining of titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V

Titanium alloys present superior properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion but, possess poor machinability. In this study, influence of material constitutive models and elastic–viscoplastic finite element formulation on serrated chip formation for modeling of machining Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy is investigated. Temperature-dependent flow softening based modified material models are proposed where flow softening phenomenon, strain hardening and thermal softening effects and their interactions are coupled. Orthogonal cutting experiments have been conducted with uncoated carbide (WC/Co) and TiAlN coated carbide cutting tools. Temperature-dependent flow softening parameters are validated on a set of experimental data by using measured cutting forces and chip morphology. Finite Element simulations are validated with experimental results at two different rake angles, three different undeformed chip thickness values and two different cutting speeds. The results reveal that material flow stress and finite element formulation greatly affects not only chip formation mechanism but also forces and temperatures predicted. Chip formation process for adiabatic shearing in machining Ti–6Al–4V alloy is successfully simulated using finite element models without implementing damage models.     

Constitutive equation with residual hardening effect for modeling the ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding process

ABSTRACT

A modified acoustic-plastic constitutive model characterising both acoustic softening and residual hardening effects on aluminium alloys is developed and applied into a computational fluid dynamic model for the ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) process. The flow stress and material flow field in UVeFSW are quantitatively analysed. The effect of acoustic residual hardening on the streamlines density at rear advancing side is examined by comparing with that based on the model considering just acoustic softening. The numerical simulation results are experimentally validated, and it is found that the modified constitutive equation improves the prediction accuracy of the flow stress and material flow field in UVeFSW.     

Optimizing friction stir welding parameters to maximize tensile strength of AA2219 aluminum alloy joints

AA2219 aluminium alloy (Al-Cu-Mn alloy) has gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of lightweight structures requiring a high strength-to-weight ratio and good corrosion resistance. In contrast to the fusion welding processes that are routinely used for joining structural aluminium alloys, the friction stir welding (FSW) process is an emerging solid state joining process in which the material that is being welded does not melt and recast. This process uses a non-consumable tool to generate frictional heat in the abutting surfaces. The welding parameters such as tool rotational speed, welding speed, axial force etc., and the tool pin profile play a major role in determining the joint strength. An attempt has been made here to develop a mathematical model to predict the tensile strength of friction stir welded AA2219 aluminium alloy by incorporating FSW process parameters. A central composite design with four factors and five levels has been used to minimize the number of experimental conditions. The response surface method (RSM) has been used to develop the model. The developed mathematical model has been optimized using the Hooke and Jeeves search technique to maximize the tensile strength of the friction stir welded AA2219 aluminium alloy joints.