Load Estimation Methods on Welded Joints Using Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is effective for predicting loads on weldments fabricated from plates, shells, structural shapes and tubes. Although the loads through the joints can be calculated by FEA, they are not readily presentable to determine throat size in most common FEA programs. The nodal loads and stresses from the analysis results should be converted to weld loads suitable to weld evaluation. Therefore, accurate load estimation depends on the model of the weld. This paper provides various methods to model the welded joints and to develop the weld loads from the FEA results. Additionally, using a specific tube model, weld throat sizes are calculated by various methods