Predicting the Thermal Behaviour of Wood During Linear Welding Using the Finite Element Method

A numerical model to simulate the temperature behaviour of wood welding samples during the welding process was developed to understand the influence of material parameters on the welding temperature. A finite element method and the CAST3M software were used to simulate and model the temperature changes during welding of beech wood. This model takes into account the different properties of the wood welded bondline, the geometry of the sample and the external conditions. The energy produced by the friction welding of the wood samples was determined from infrared thermography measurements for the welding process and inputted into the model. The comparison between the predicted and experimental results shows that the model is reliable. The applied pressure, the vibration, the extrusion of material and the chemical reactions, particularly exothermic reactions, are not taken into account in this model and thus probably explain the differences existing between actual and simulated values. However, this numerical...