A Program for the Fatigue Analysis of Automotive Spot-Welds Based on Finite Element Calculations 962566
A Software system has been developed which permits fatigue life predictions to be made for automotive spot welds joining two steel sheets, based on finite-element analyses. The method requires the spot welds in a structure to be modelled as stiff bar elements in a relatively coarse mesh, with the bar elements acting as force transducers. The method uses the bar element cross sectional forces and moments to calculate the “structural stresses” in each spot-weld nugget and the adjacent sheets.
The system permits the user to play complex loading histories through a finite element model, using either a quasi-static or transient approach to stress history determination. The method provides a convenient way to predict the locations and lives of fatigue sensitive spot welds, and includes graphical tools to assist in interpretation of results. Studies so far indicate that in a typical application such as an automotive body structure, the system correctly identifies all the spot welds that are likely to give rise to durability problems. Using generic S-N curves, life predictions made so far have tended to be somewhat conservative. When S-N curves are used which are more representative of the material from which the component is constructed, more accurate life predictions can be made.
Citation: Heyes, P. and Fermer, M., "A Program for the Fatigue Analysis of Automotive Spot-Welds Based on Finite Element Calculations," SAE Technical Paper 962566, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/962566. Download Citation
Author(s):
Peter Heyes, Mikael Fermer
Pages: 6
Event:
Symposium on International Automotive Technology
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Related Topics:
Finite element analysis
Body structures
Joining
Fatigue
Technical review
Welding
Historical reference
Steel
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