Emerging Modeling and Simulation Techniques for Friction Stir Welding - A Review

Abstract

Abstract-Friction stir welding is a relatively new solid-state joining technique which is widely acceptable in various industries (aerospace, automotive, railway, and shipbuilding) to join similar and dissimilar metallic alloys that are difficult to weld by conventional fusion welding process. In last decade, the friction stir welding processes developments have been active areas research due to dimensional stability of the welded structure, low residual stresses and most important eco-friendly wielding process. The welding mechanism is based on the frictional heat generation process through the interaction of a non-consumable tool to adjoining edges of the plates to be joined. There are a number of issues that affect the performance of friction stir welding such as heat generation, material flow, tool geometry, tool rotation, travel speed, axial force, and tilt angle. Several modeling and simulation techniques have been applied for the characterization of friction stir wielding process phenomenon that are empirical, analytical, numerical and artificial intelligence modeling techniques. The objective of this paper is to review the recent works on modeling and simulation techniques and to emphasize the future requirements for increased understanding of the modeling and simulation efforts in the field of friction stir welding.