A thermomechanical hot channel approach for friction stir welding

This paper provides a theoretical framework for developing a thermomechanical hot channel (THC) approach for augmenting the friction stir welding (FSW) process. The model follows from the Rosenthal solution for moving point sources where heat input from the tool shoulder acts as a warm source while plasmas or laser heat sources provide higher energy input. The THC approach aims at decreasing tool wear by reducing the demand for frictional heat from the tool shoulder and pin. In the proposed model, the THC processing temperature is approximately 1000 °C, which is close to the temperature required for stir welding steel.