Numerical Analysis of Stress and Temperature in the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) Process of Steel

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a modern technology for joining various metals, which has already undergone many laboratory tests, but still requires the development of numerical models. Author of the paper decided to summarize the current state of scientific knowledge regarding the modelling of the FSW process using the finite element method (FEM) and showed the main directions of development of numerical research on this process. Very advanced models are a combination of solid mechanics and fluid dynamics, but they often require expanding the computing environment with its own subroutines, as well as calibration and validation of some material parameter and constants occurring e.g. in the heat generation and heat flow laws. The Author of the paper proposed his own, simplified model, based on the computational solid mechanics and Lagrangian formulation. The model turned out to be an effective tool to reproduce stress and temperature fields during the FSW process.