An automated assessment of complex structures with notches, welding seams and spot joints is presented. Based on guidelines and with the help of software-coded procedures, the Finite Element model is conventionally build up including all notches and joints. After having determined the stresses by linear or geometrically non-linear Finite Elemente analysis (FEA), the stresses are postprocessed by a software package which automatic takes the stress gradient in notches and the special properties of welding seams and spot joints as defined in the FE-model into account. The dimension of the notches, the design and the position of the welding, as well as the number and the location of the spot joints have a significant technical and economical impact. An optimum use of the material capabilities is only possible with optimized notch, welding seam or spot joint design of a structure. The paper includes the theoretical background and procedure how the computationally optimisation of these structures is done.
展开▼
