Simulation and Experimental Study on Temperature and Flow Field in Friction Stir Welding of TC4 Titanium Alloy Process

Abstract

In this study, numerical simulation method was used to investigate the temperature field and the flow field of FSW for TC4 titanium alloy. According to the contact condition between the tool surface and the weld piece, a scientific heat source calculation method was built and its reliability has been verified by experiments. The temperature distribution characteristics of welding zone were investigated. The simulation results shows that the welding materials around the friction head flows like funnel-shape in a whole, similar to the shape of the friction head. The flow condition of welding materials is asymmetric with respect to the weld line, and the flow velocity increases with the greater distance from the center of the weld. As the depth of the weld increases, the flow capacity of the material gradually becomes weaker.