On the Utility of the Thermal-Pseudo Mechanical Model’s Residual Stress Prediction Capability for the Development of Friction Stir Processing

This paper investigates the thermal-pseudo mechanical (TPM) model’s residual stress prediction capability for its utility in developing friction stir processing (FSP). Specifically, two FSP tests under different processing conditions were conducted, and the corresponding simulations were carried out to verify if the TPM model can predict residual stresses for various tool radii and workpiece materials. The model successfully predicted residual stresses with an error less than 4% for one of the tests but failed to work for the other test. Further simulations under different FSP conditions proved that the TPM model works for cast aluminum alloys and wrought aluminum alloys. In addition, the large FSP tool used was found to be the reason for the model’s failure on one of the tests. This indicates that there is a range of tool radii for which the TPM model is applicable. As a solution, this paper suggests modifications to the TPM model based on calibration to the FSP test temperatures. The resulting residual stress prediction is accurate and differs from the experimentally characterized stress values by only 6.5 MPa. The calibrated TPM model requires FSP to be carried out when using a tool with a different radius. Following that, the effect on residual stresses due to changes in the other process parameters, such as the tool traverse & rotation speeds and the clamping conditions, can be predicted.