An ICME Approach for Optimizing Thin-Welded Structure Design

Abstract

Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) is an emerging discipline that can speed up product development by unifying material, design, fabrication, and computational power in a virtual environment. Developing and adapting ICME in industries is a grand challenge technically and culturally. To help develop a strategy for development of this new technology area, an ICME approach was proposed and implemented in optimizing thin welded structure design. The key component in this approach is a database which includes material properties, static strength, impact strength, and failure parameters for a weld. The heat source models, microstructure model, and thermo-mechanical model involved in ICME for welding simulation were discussed. The shell elements representing method for a fusion weld were introduced in details for a butt joint, lap joint, and a Tee joint. Using one or multiple solid elements representing a spot weld in a shell model was also discussed. Database building methods for resistance spot welding and fusion welding have been developed.