2017 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 137s-140s
It has been reported that welding distortion can be well reproduced using inherent deformation by performing the simple elastic finite element analysis. To efficiently predict the welding distortion of large structures, the inherent deformation database in the design space of the shrinkage and bending control parameters for each basic welded joint was established through experimental measurements and nonlinear transient simulations by thermal elastoplastic FEM. Then, when welding conditions and constraint conditions used in the real production lines are different from those employed in established inherent deformation database, the estimating method of inherent deformation for practical applications is recommended. With the aid of the established inherent deformation database, the welding distortion of large structure models with/without jig constraints for the construction machinery is predicted using the enhanced elastic FEM solver and compared with experimental measurements. The efficiency and validity of the enhanced solver and the inherent deformation database are clearly demonstrated.
