TWI Digital Library

A method for incorporating local material property gradients across the weld zone in finite element simulations of friction stir welded 2139-T8 aluminium alloys was developed to predict the time evolution of strain. Local material flow stress was described by a simplified Johnson-Cook model. Material model parameters were attributed to evolution of strengthening precipitates in the alloy during thermomechanical loading. A Crawford Swift friction stir welding machine was employed to fabricate instrumented bead on plate welds in AA 2139-T8 at a tool rotational speed of 1000 rpm and advancing speed of 100 mm/min. Mechanical properties were characterised by hardness measurements and quasistatic tensile tests. Digital image correlation was performed for cross-weld tensile specimens using DaVis 8.2 software. Experimental and simulated time evolution strain maps were compared.

10th International Symposium, 20-22 May 2014, Session 9B: Modelling II, Paper 01