Contribution a l'industrialisation du soudage par friction malaxage

Abstract

The Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process which avoids some problems encountered by fusion welding, like hot cracking or solidification defects. The welding is performed by a rotating tool, inserted into the interface of two rigidly clamped workpieces. The required heat energy is provided by the friction between this tool and the workpieces. The combined tool rotation and translation create the material stirring, joining the workpieces together. The resulting efforts at the interface must be support by the machine and the part-holding device. They are thus a major issue for the choice of the welding equipments. This thesis work consists in implementing a method to qualify means of production for FSW process, by identifying the suitable part of the process windows. This method is threefold. The first point is the identification of the characteristic parameters of FSW process. These one are taken into account in specifications for the choice or the design of a means of production for FSW. The second point of the method is the experimental characterization of the process windows. The mechanical actions on the tool were associated with each combination of the operating parameters of the process windows. This experimental study highlighted the effect of driving parameters on the efforts at the tool/product interface. Lastly, the last point of the method is the validation of the selected means of production for FSW, thanks to the collected experimental data sets. These mean of production is modelled in order to check the capacities of the device, the pin and the parts holder used to carry out the operation of welding. The method of qualification was implemented in the case of multi-axis robot (6 axis). This