Weld simulation

[waltertulin]

How do I simulate a part that has parts welded to form a bracket. How do I include those welds in the static simulation?

[TheCADWhisperer]

Do you have experience using other analysis software to study welds?

I recommend watching >>this video.<<

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to post the title of the vid in question, as the link is broken.

[TheCADWhisperer]

@Anonymous 

New link for A Job Weld Done.

[ICanSpinIt]

I watched the hour and a half video and understood all. Since Fusion 360 doesn't not have the weldment tools/calculator like Inventor does you will have to do the calculations manually or get Inventor!

The silly question is, when doing the simulation do you run it whole with all parts contacted/bonded or do you have to painstakingly run each part separate and calculate the stress loads based on the angles and lengths for the next part?

[TheCADWhisperer]

Can you Attach your assembly here (or at least a screen capture image)?

[ICanSpinIt]

Here is a simple set up. Its aluminum I beams. You can see my constraints and load areas. The areas to be welded are where the Beams contact and the inside corner braces.....Its simple. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

Is your goal really to test welds

or

is  your goal to test the frame assembly?

[ICanSpinIt]

My goal is to figure out if the structure is strong enough for the load given and are the inside braces sufficient. If so then from there I can calculate the size of weld needed. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

What problem are you experiencing in running the analysis?

What is your criteria for defining "failure" or "strong enough"?

[ICanSpinIt]

There is no problem, I am uncertain if I am approaching it correctly. In the video link the person states "don't model your welds, calculate your welds after." That is what I am doing and it makes perfect sense. The model I gave is just a test subject for the Fusion 360 simulation experimentation. 

Say the load is 10,000lbs, do the inside braces need to be larger? Can they be smaller? Don't know but the simulation will guide me. Once satisfied, I find the stresses at those locations, you can then say you need "x" size weld at "y" length for the appropriate stress given in that area. 

Is it better practice to simulate with it all bonded together or each piece individually with a calculator handy?

[TheCADWhisperer]

You have long skinny components (extreme aspect ratio) for tetrahedral mesh but it might be OK.

Use Bonded Contacts between the components.