A numerical technique to analyze the trend of temperature distribution in the friction stir welding process for titanium Ti 6Al 4V

Abstract

Friction stir welding (FSW) process became a game changer for welding of aluminium in a considerably short span of time. Researchers are tempted to use this method on another materials due to of its excellent after FSW weld properties. In fact, researchers and industrial engineers of sectors like automobile and aerospace, where weight is a sensitive issue, feel the need of such a remarkable operation which gives us the best results without any defects in the weld of the material whose softening temperature is high. FSW of nonferrous materials like Ti 6Al 4V-which have high strength and high softening temperature-has become the hottest subject for further research due to its progressing use in the aviation industry. FSW experiments on such materials are tedious and expensive. The achievement of the accurate plasticized stage is very much essential so that the tool can travel in traverse direction flawlessly without damage to achieve sound weld. To get insight of such tedious process as well as to save cost, numerical simulation and computational modelling is the best known option to solve the above problems. In this study, Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) formulation is used to create 3D coupled temperature-displacement FSW model, in which the workpiece domain is described by the combine Eulerian and Lagrangian boundaries and the tool domain by the Lagrangian boundaries. The contrast with experimental results shows that the peak temperature and the temperature distribution are well predicted by the CEL model. Further, the repercussions of the difference in tool travel speeds and tool rotational speeds shows significant changes on the temperature distribution. The elimination of mesh distortion within the workpiece doesn't affect the reliability of the results predicted by the present CEL model and has good potential within the finite element modelling of refill friction stir welding.