Numerical analysis of joint temperature evolution during friction stir welding based on sticking contact

A three-dimensional numerical model for friction stir welding was developed by using the ABAQUS software based on a fully sticking friction. The temperature measurement was performed to validate the reliability of the model. The simulated thermal histories are in good agreement with the experiments. Simulated results show that the rotation speed has no influence on the time to reach the peak temperature in the workpiece, while the welding speed has significant effect on the time to reach the peak temperature at points away from the plunging center. The value of this peak temperature also changes somewhat. Moreover, the peak temperature in the workpiece tends to reach a quasi-steady state at the beginning of the moving stage; but the temperature at some distance away from the weld does not reach the quasi-steady state during the welding.