High Effective FE Simulation Methods for Deformation and Residual Stress by Butt Welding of Thin Steel Plates

Abstract

In order to propose high effective simulation using finite element method (FEM) for predicting deformation and residual stress generated by one pass butt welding, a series of numerical analyses were carried out. By idealizing the movement of heat source (the instantaneous heat input method), the tendency of welding out-of-plane deformation and the residual stress distribution could be predicted. The computing time was around 9% of that by the precise model with considering the movement of heat source. On the other hand, applicability of two dimensional shell elements instead of generally used three dimensional solid elements was examined. The heat input model with considering the temperature distribution in the thickness direction was proposed for the simulation by using the shell elements. It was confirmed that the welding out-of-plane deformation and residual stress could be predicted with high accuracy by the model with shell elements and the distributed heat input methods. The computing time was around 8% of that by the precise model with solid elements.