I would to model a series of fillet weld on two parts in my FEA model. I am aware of the Welded connection option, but that doesn't represent the weld geometry at all and doesn't completely represent the load path. Also I have a few scenarios where I need a skip weld.
Any recommendations on how to model a weld in Adesk Simulation? I believe I've seen it in Abaqus where there is a surface run from the weld toe edge on one part to the weld toe edge on the other. Can I model a surface in my CAD package and import that? Or would I have to manually create that surface? Please let me know how best to do that if it's a manual process.
Thanks.
I have modeled fillet welds using triangular shaped cross sections in the cad program. I mesh it with bricks and include mid-side nodes. I generally put two to three elements through one leg of the weld (i.e. 5/16 fillet has an absolute mesh size of around 1/8 inch.
I typically see high stresses at the toe of the weld which is consistent with where fatigue cracks typically start. Residual stresses can often be high in welded structures. Unfortunately, the fatigue wizard doesn't allow the inclusion of a residual stress. Therefore, I use the eFatigue (search on Google) strain-life calculator that allows a residual stress and stress-concentration factor at the toe of the weld to be included manually.
Hope this helps.
Robert,
I had found efatigue previously and was considering whether to join. Does the efatigue site recommend Kf factors depending on loading and weld orientation, or does it just provide life calculators?
Thanks.
eFatigue provides a method for computing the fatigue stress concentration factor at the toe of a butt weld. This is a function of the plate thickness and weld angle (a picture is included with the calculator). They don't provide any others, but you can manually specifiy a concentration factor if you know it.