Numerical Simulation of Temperature Distribution during the First Stage of the Friction Stir Alloying Process

This work demonstrates the numerical modelling of thermal dispersion accompanying the first stage of the friction stir alloying process. It is very important to recognise the temperature field in the modified workpiece in order to identify the zones where the physical material properties are changing. The temperature gradient leads to a drop of yield strength of the material and, as a consequence, the occurrence of the possibility of plastic flow around the tool. An attempt has been made to analyse the axisymmetric thermal problem described by a Fourier equation with an internal heat source in which the heat is derived only from work of frictional forces occurring between the workpiece and the tool material. The example under consideration focuses on the production of an Al-TiC composite using FSA technology. Macrostructure images of the composite and the simulation results confirm the correctness of the applied mathematical model, where the obtained temperature field corresponds with specific FSA zones.