The paper is devoted to development of a new approach to study of friction stir welding (FSW) process on the mesoscopic scale. This approach is based on computer-aided simulation by movable cellular automaton (MCA) method. In the framework of developed formalism of MCA method the dynamics of the friction stir welding process of duralumin plates was investigated. It was shown that ratio of rotation velocity to velocity of translation motion of rotating tool greatly influences the quality of welded joint. Optimal choice of the ratio of these parameters could significantly decrease volume content of pores and microcracks in the welded joint
