Idealisation of weld joints 1

[GMarsh]

Hi,

I am looking for various methods by which one can idealise a fillet weld joint in FE analysis. I searched through previous threads here and some general search on Google. Didn't find relevant info.

Currently I use bonded contact between solid bodies which are welded. Then (as I get spurious stress at the bonded contact), I pick the stress in FE model which is at a distance of (imaginary) weld toe. I am looking for a much better approach. I am thinking of modelling fillet weld as a triangular solid and then bond it to both surfaces. This way I can assign weld material properties also to that triangular solid. Is this correct?

I am sure there must be well proven methods for simulating such joints. Can someone share their experience?

Thank you
Geoff

 

[GMarsh]

Just to add, my interest is to calculate the fatigue (HCF and LCF) life of the structure.

 

[corus]

Have a look at this paper on different methods

http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/155710.pdf

Personally I'd use methods that obtain the nominal stress at the weld joint as the fatigue curves are based upon these values. That method doesn't involve modelling the weld but instead opts for a linearisation method to take out the hot spot stress you'd get at the discontinuity of the joint.

 

[GMarsh]

Many thanks Corus. I will go through the paper suggested.