Seam Welds

Create Seam Welds in SimSolid.

Purpose

SimSolid performs meshless structural analysis that works on full featured parts and assemblies, is tolerant of geometric imperfections, and runs in seconds to minutes. In this tutorial, you will do the following:
  • Learn how to create welds from solids, group welds, master welds, and welds from lines/edges.

Model Description

The following files are needed for this tutorial:
  • Foot Bridge_solid_parts.x_b
  • SeamWeldLines.xml


Figure 1.

Import Geometry

Import model geometry into SimSolid.

  1. Open a new SimSolid session.
  2. Click the (Import from file) icon.


    Figure 2.
  3. In the Open geometry files dialog, choose Foot Bridge_solid_parts.x_b.
  4. Click Open.
    The assembly will load in the modeling window. The Automatic connections dialog will open.
  5. Click Cancel to close the dialog.

Create Seam Welds from Solids

Convert solids into seam welds.

  1. In the Project Tree, select the Connections workbench.
  2. On the toolbar, click (Seam welds).


    Figure 3.
  3. In the dialog, select the Weld from solid tab.
  4. Set Section size to 5.


    Figure 4.
    Section size defines the lengths from the toe to the root of the weld.


    Figure 5.
  5. Select parts in one of the following ways:
    • In the Project Tree, expand the Assembly branch and select the highlighted parts shown in Figure 6.


      Figure 6.
    • In the Create seam welds dialog, select the Find parts by keyword radio button and type Weld. Then click Hide parts.
    • Select parts in the modeling window.
    Selected solid parts are highlighted in the modeling window.


    Figure 7.
  6. Click Find parts.
    In the dialog, a preview of the found welds is shown.


    Figure 8.
  7. Click OK.
    Solid welds are created by suppressing the solid parts from which they were created. Suppressed solid parts are removed from the Project Tree.


    Figure 9.

Create Welds Using Group Welds

Use the Group Welds option to create seam welds.

  1. In the dialog, switch to the Group weld tab.
  2. Set Section size to 0.005.
  3. Set Minimum length to 0.012.
  4. In the modeling window, hide the walkway part of the bridge and then select the rest of the parts.


    Figure 10.
  5. Click Find welds.
    A preview of the found welds is shown.
    Figure 11.
  6. Click OK.


    Figure 12.

Review Connections and Delete Seam Welds

Review part connections and delete seam welds associated with a part.

  1. In the modeling window, select the arch shown in orange in Figure 13.
  2. Right-click on the part and select Review part connections in the context menu.
    Figure 13.
    All the seam welds associated with the part are listed in a dialog.
  3. Select all connections in the dialog.
  4. Click Delete.
    Figure 14.
  5. Click Close to dismiss the dialog.

Create Welds Using Master Welds

Use the Master Welds option to create seam welds.

  1. In the dialog, switch to the Master weld tab.
  2. Set Section size to 0.005.
  3. Set Minimum length to 0.012.
  4. Activate the Master part radio button.
  5. In the modeling window, select the arch.
  6. In the modeling window, select the parts shown in orange in Figure 15.


    Figure 15.
  7. Click Find welds.
    A preview of found welds is shown.


    Figure 16.
  8. Click OK.

Create Welds Using Lines/Edges

Use lines/edges to create seam welds.

  1. In the modeling window, zoom in on the part shown in Figure 17.


    Figure 17.
  2. In the dialog, switch to the Weld by lines/edges tab.
  3. Set Section size to 0.005.
  4. Set Minimum length to 0.012.
  5. In the modeling window, select the edge shown in pink in Figure 18.


    Figure 18.
  6. Click Find welds.
    A preview of the found welds is shown.
    Figure 19.
  7. Click OK.


    Figure 20.
  8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 to create welds at the other edges of this part.

Review Seam Welds

Review seam welds and delete welds created from solids.

  1. Right-click on the walkway and select Review part connections in the context menu.


    Figure 21.
    All connections for the selected part are listed in a dialog.
  2. In the dialog, select all seam welds.


    Figure 22.
  3. Click Delete.
  4. In the first Warning dialog, click Yes.


    Figure 23.
  5. In the second Warning dialog, click Delete parts.
    This will delete the parts from which the welds were created.


    Figure 24.

Create Seam Welds from Imported Lines

Import lines and create seam welds from those lines.

  1. On the Connections toolbar, click (Seam welds).
  2. Select the Weld by lines/edges tab.
  3. Click Import.


    Figure 25.
  4. In the File explorer, select SeamWeldLines.xml and click Open.
    Imported lines are listed in the Lines/Edges section of the dialog and drawn in the modeling window.


    Figure 26.
  5. Click to look more closely at the line.
    The selected line is highlighted in red.
  6. Click Find welds.
  7. Review the welds and click OK to accept them.


    Figure 27.

Add Material

Add material to seam welds.

  1. On the Connections toolbar, click (Seam welds) > Apply material to seam welds.


    Figure 28.
  2. In the Material database, select General Materials > Steel.


    Figure 29.
  3. Click Apply to all welds.
  4. Click OK.
    If material is not assigned to the seam weld by user, SimSolid automatically assigns material properties of the adjacent part with strongest material at the time of solving.