Hi all
I am looking to calculate a mechanically welded structure, and I would like to test sizing the necessary weld seams via Solidworks Simu (premium 2022).
I can create weld seams in the "welded construction" tab but I don't think they are taken into account for the calculation.
Also I'm a little stuck:
For me in the connections I have to remove the "solid" to point the location of each weld. Except that I can't select my beams, which I have passed in volume.
Do you have any idea where I should look? Or is it simply impossible?
Thank you
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Hello @clement.merlin
From my point of view and that of some Visiativ and Avenao trainers and perhaps several colleagues on this forum, it is futile to want to use welds for simulation.
What for!
1°) As you rightly assume, the "welded construction weld" elements are not transmitted between SW C AD and SW Simulation.
2°) the weld elements are only used for the calculation of the mass in SW CAD and for the MEP to indicate where the welds should be made and what type of weld.
To achieve your goals, you should:
a) Draw all the welds in volume, respecting the shapes more or less according to the type of weld
b) at the level of simulation then it becomes heaven in hell. because it would be necessary to ensure that only the welds touch the two parts and that there is a space of more than 1 or 2 mm between all the beams and other objects so as to say that only these parts of the weld and solid, etc....
c) when you weld an IPN (or a gusset) on each side, you will realize that if you make a weld the assumed surface of the weld is equal to or nearly equal to the surface in contact between the two parts.
d) if you want to go crazy prematurely (which I obviously don't wish for you) imagine the souk if you decide to make discontinuous welds of different types!
Rather, simulation is designed to verify design calculations and to account for overall interactions that are not always easy to compute on semi-complex to complex frames with bizarre loads.
For welds, there are simple calculations for each weld and type of weld (force assembly or compact assembly, etc.). There are either charts for each type of weld or software (e.g. https://www.mitcalc.com/doc/welding/help/fr/welding.htm) or spreadsheets on specialized sites.
Only spot welding is of interest in SW simulation because the contact points are not ambiguous in this case.
(To be discussed of course)
Kind regards
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It was a colleague from another site who told me that he had used it once, I wanted to realize the usefulness of the method.
You have enlightened me well;) Thank you very much
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Good analysis of @Zozo_mp
If you really want to get started, you will have to make mixed mesh: seamless parts of the beams as a beam element and volume where they touch and are welded (with realistic representation of the weld). And you have to put an air gap between your profiles (or else manage the contact).
It's still doable but it's going to take you a lot of modeling time.
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