For simulation of friction stir welded A356 aluminum alloy wheel rim

the coordinate transformation method about the moving coordinate system was used based on Fourier law to define the heat conduction governing equation containing the term of welding speed

which was introduced to reduce the modeling difficulty.Friction heat production used the shear friction model

according to the law of conservation of energy

the calculus equation considering the function conversion efficiency was used to deduce the reasonable heat production formula of the shoulder and stir tool

and according to the rim symmetric structure

calculation model was simplified

and heat transfer model of friction stir welding rim was established.The comparison of the rim weld profile morphology simulation under the condition of the same welding process with the experimental results verifies the effectiveness and accuracy of friction stir welding heat transfer model

which can be used to optimize the rim welding process parameters and to understand the welding mechanism of friction stir welded wheel rim.