3D Impacts Modeling of the Magnetic Pulse Welding Process and Comparison to Experimental Data

Abstract

Magnetic Pulse Welding (MPW) is a solid state (cold) welding process known to present several advantages. When properly designed, such an assembly is stronger than the weakest base material even for multi-material joining. These high quality welds are due to an almost inexistent Heat Affected Zone which is not the case with fusion welding solutions. Another advantage is a welding time that is under a millisecond. In order to define the MPW parameters (mainly geometry, current and frequency), recent developments have made it possible to adapt welding windows from the Explosive Welding (EXW) for use in MPW. Until now, these welding windows have been simulated only in 2D geometries showing how the impact angle and the radial velocities progress in a welding window. The aim of this paper is to present our most recent development, which builds on this analysis to develop a 3D model in order to deal for example with local planar MPW. Simulation results will be presented and then compared to experimental data for a multimaterial join case.