I hope you can help me, I'm having problems simulating the behavior of a mechanically welded assembly on SW. As my structure is made up of half machined parts and half sheet metal parts, I didn't use SW's "Sheet Metal Work" function to draw them. I then created my assembly and constrained all my parts between them.
How do you perform a finite element simulation taking into account weld seams?
I tried to model the weld seams using the function: insertion> Assembly function > Weld seam..., but I can't take them into account in my static study when I switch to SW Simulation. The idea is obviously to keep the link between my parts, my assembly and my study to be able to modify my parts or the position of my weld seams if my assembly is not rigid enough!
The definition of assembly constraints in SW (including welds) does not imply the definition of contacts in SW simulation.
Therefore, from a simulation point of view, the components of the assemblies remain disjointed until we define the appropriate contact conditions or connectors.
The Weld Bead connector must be used between two shell functions or a shell and a volume function. (shell function in the sense used in SW simulation). Fillet and chamfer welds, both on one and two sides are available.
However, in my experience, it only works for single-pass seams, so only for ultra-basic welding.
You will notice that defining the "weld seam" sensors is all the more necessary since the welding function in mechanically welded assemblies does not allow you to make constraints. In fact, these are only representations that make it possible to make them appear automatically and not very standardised in the MEP.
Be careful not to use the spot weld sensors, which are quite reliable.
Although it is none of my business and it is not the question asked! Wanting to define these welds by different tests is a bit curious because except in aeronautics and measuring instrument systems, we don't care much about weight.
Moreover in SW simulation it does not take into account whether it is TIG or MIG, nor your type of rod or alloy, and even less the quality of the welder, :-) etc....
Kind regards
PS: [HS:On] I've always wondered if SW's engineers knew what welding was or if they had shown their development to a real welder or a real boilermaker, this when I think of the relatively recent appearance of welding function which works pretty much and still it's a real headache this thing [HS /Off]
So if I define my cords using the "Solder Bead connector", how can I switch my solid parts to the shells? I don't understand why, it's not possible to make a weld bead between 2 volumetric bodies...
I may have expressed myself badly, but it's not really to define my weld seams. It's more to size my sheets, for weight and mechanical resistance issues. For example, if my structure is not rigid enough, switch from 2.5 to 3mm sheets.