Seam Weld (Fillet)

In this tutorial you will:
  • Import a model to HyperLife
  • Select the Weld module and define its required parameters
  • Create and assign materials to the welds and sheet groups
  • Assign load histories for scaling the stresses from FEA subcases
  • Evaluate and view results

Prior to running through this tutorial, copy Models-h3d.zip from <HyperWorks_installation_directory>\tutorials\hl to a local directory. Extract Seam-Fillet.h3d, Seam-Fillet.gpf, load1.csv, and load2.csv from Models-h3d.zip..

Import the Model

  1. From the Home tools, Files tool group, click the Open Model tool.


    Figure 1.
  2. From the Load model and result dialog, browse and select Seam-Fillet.h3d for the model file.
    The Load result field is automatically populated. For this tutorial, the same file is used for both the model and the result.
    Note: Seam weld analysis is performed using grid point forces, which can be made available with *.gpf files in the model directory. If no *.gpf file is present, the grid point forces should be included in the .h3d file.
  3. Click Apply.


    Figure 2.
Tip: Quickly import the model by dragging and dropping the h3d file from a windows browser into the HyperLife modeling window.

Define the Fatigue Module

  1. From the Setup tools, click the arrow next to the fatigue module icon and select the Weld tool from the list of options.


    Figure 3.
    The Weld dialog opens.
  2. Set the type to Seam.
  3. Set the certainty of survival to 0.6.
  4. Accept all other default parameters.


    Figure 4.
  5. Exit the dialog.

Assign Materials

  1. From the Setup tools, click the Material tool.


    Figure 5.
    The Assign Material dialog opens.
  2. Using the drop-down menu at the top, left of the dialog, change the components from Sets to Parts.
  3. In the Select Weld Parts window, activate the checkbox next to auto2.
  4. Click Find Weld Toe, Root.
    The adjacent attached components are displayed.
  5. Create a bending material.
    1. Click the My Material tab.
    2. Click to create a new material.
    3. Name the material Mat_WELD_bending.
    4. Change the Input method to Slope-intcept,2-seg.
    5. In the SN tab, set the Fatigue strength coefficient or Curve intercept (SR1) to 1203.
    6. Set the Fatigue limit to 100.
    7. Set the Standard error value to 0.334.
    8. Click the Other tab and ensure the Yield Strength is set to 250 and Poisson's Ratio is set to 0.333.
    9. Accept all other default settings then click Plot & Save.


      Figure 6.
  6. Create a membrane material.
    1. Staying in the My Material tab, click to create another material.
    2. Name the material Mat_WELD_membrane.
    3. Change the Input method to Slope-intcept,2-seg.
    4. In the SN tab, set the Fatigue strength coefficient or Curve intercept (SR1) to 803.000.
    5. Set the First fatigue strength exponent or Slope (B1) to -0.150.
    6. Set the Second fatigue strength exponent to -0.110.
    7. Set the Fatigue limit to 100.
    8. Set the Standard error value to 0.334.
    9. Click the Other tab and ensure the Yield Strength is set to 250 and Poisson's Ratio is set to 0.333.
    10. Accept all other default settings then click Plot & Save.


      Figure 7.
  7. Right-click on both Mat_WELD_bending and Mat_WELD_membrane and select Add to Assign Material List.
  8. Return to the Assign Material tab.
  9. Set Mat_WELD_bending as Material (B) and Mat_WELD_membrane as Material (M) for both components.
    The Material list is populated with the materials selected from Material Database and My Material.
    Note: The Material Database contains default bending and membrane materials for seam weld analyses.
  10. Set BRATIO to 0.6 for both components.
  11. Set TREF_N to 0.1 for both components.


    Figure 8.
  12. Exit the dialog.

Assign Load Histories

  1. From the Setup tools, click the Load Map tool.


    Figure 9.
    The Load Map dialog opens.
  2. From the Load Type drop-down menu, select Time Data.
  3. Click and browse for load1.csv.
  4. Click to add the load case.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for load2.csv.
  6. Optional: Click to view a plot of the loads.


    Figure 10. Load 1


    Figure 11. Load 2
    Tip: Expand the width of the dialog to view a clearer picture of the plot.
  7. On the bottom half of the dialog, set the radio button to Auto for event creation.
  8. Select both the Block 1 channel under load1 and Subcase 1, then click to create the first event.
  9. Next, select both Block 1 channels, Subcase 2, and Subcase 3 then click .
    A second event is created.
    Tip: Hold Control while left-clicking to select multiple options.
  10. Activate the checkboxes for the two events.
  11. Set the LDM to 0.5 for Subcase 1.
  12. Right-click on the LDM field and select Apply value to all events.
    Subcases 2 and 3 inherit the LDM value.
  13. Similarly, set the Scale to 0.6 for all three subcases.


    Figure 12.
  14. Exit the dialog.

Evaluate and View Results

  1. From the Evaluate tool group, click the Run Analysis tool.


    Figure 13.
    The Evaluate dialog opens.


    Figure 14.
  2. Optional: Enter a name for the run.
  3. Click Run.
    Result files are saved to the home directory and the Run History dialog opens.


    Figure 15.
  4. Once the run is complete, click View Current Results.
  5. Use the Results Explorer to visualize various types of results.


    Figure 16.


    Figure 17.

    The life expectancy for the worst element is 5.484e4 cycles.