Numerical analysis of thermal process in continuous drive radial friction welding

A heat source model for radial friction welding was proposed, which was determined by friction pressure, friction coefficient, material properties and extrusion speed of material. A 3D model was established to analyze the continuous drive radial friction welding temperature field of 45 steel pipe. The influences of friction pressure, friction time and rotation speed on the temperature of the friction interface were analyzed. The results showed that the temperature on the friction interface rapidly rose to a peak temperature in initial friction stage and kept constant in the stable friction stage. Welding parameters of friction pressure, friction time and rotation speed had few influences on the peak temperature, while the increase of frlctlon pressure and rotation speed could shorten the time to reach the peak temperature.