Thermal Effect on a Plate While Welding Using Finite Element Method

Welding is a reliable and effective metal fabrication which is widely used in industries. Localized heating during welding, followed by a rapid cooling generates residual stress and distortion in the weld and base metal. This distortion is a serious problem when the flatness is needed to be maintained for the plates after welding. The objective of the project are to develop a finite element model of a welding process, then compute the temperature distribution in a welded plate and lastly to determine the deformation of the plate. This project studies the temperature distribution along the welded plate in the welding process, the stress distribution on the plate and the deformation of the plate. First, all the parameter and concept that are being used in this analysis needed to be determined. After that, study the ANSYS software. Then, develop a simple 3D plate model as a basic model before approaching the much more complex welding model. In ANSYS, the heat transfer analysis is conducted using element type SOLID70. After that, generated mesh for the model. All loads are being applied to the model. The heat input is treated as heat flux acting on the model. The heat loss due to convention is also included in the welding model. Filler material deposition is modelled using birth and death technique. The analysis is done by uncoupled the thermal analysis and the structural analysis. The thermal result is then analysed and discussed. Then, a structural analysis model is developed using element type SOLID 45, and apply the load from the thermal result, and determine all the stress and deformation in the model. The structural analysis results all mean of the distortion are analysed. The thermal result generated is compared to the previous paper work’s result and found acceptable.