Weld Fatigue Analysis in ANSYS using ANSYS Fatigue Module

Alexander Kielland platform accident during 1980

Fatigue Analysis in ANSYS

Scope of presentation ANSYS fatigue overview
ANSYS nCode DesignLife Fatigue module in ANSYS Workbench ANSYS (classic) post1 Fatigue Module User calculated fatigue criteria plotted using ANSYS post1

Weld fatigue methods that can be related to WB Fatigue Module Short notes on sub-modeling technique Live demonstration of complete work flow from CAD to analysis results using ANSYS WB Fatigue Module

ANSYS nCode DesignLife

Integrated within ANSYS Workbench environment to provide a leading solution for advanced fatigue analysis.

ANSYS Fatigue Module

Stress life fatigue evaluation Strain life fatigue evaluation

ANSYS post1 Fatigue Module

How ANSYS Calculates Fatigue The ANSYS fatigue calculations rely on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III (and Section VIII, Division 2) for guidelines on range counting, simplified elastic-plastic adaptations, and cumulative fatigue summation by Miner's rule.

User calculated fatigue criteria

User calculated fatigue criteria plotted using ANSYS post1

Fatigue assessment of welds

There are a number of methods available for fatigue assessment of welded joints Nominal stress method Hot Spot method (geometrical stresses) Fracture mechanics analysis Effective Notch Method (notch stresses) Can be used directly with ANSYS Fatigue Module when the appropriate fatigue data is input

Fatigue assessment of welds

Effective notch stress method (R1MS) This method consider the notch stresses in concentrated areas and require correct modeling of weld seam.

Total stress

Membrane

Bending

Non linear peak stress

Fatigue assessment of welds

Effective notch stress method (R1MS) For use with solid models only Both weld root and weld toe is considered. The method is applicable for plate thicknesses larger than 5 mm Misalignment, skewness of plates or other geometric imperfection must be modeled since it is not in the fatigue strength class.

Fatigue assessment of welds

Effective notch stress method (R1MS) A radius of 1 mm is introduced at weld root or weld toe
Radius = 1 mm

Max of principal stresses are used, but stresses should be perpendicular to the weld joint. Fatigue evaluation is performed according to fatigue strength class FAT 225 according to IIW (International Institute of Welding).

Fatigue assessment of welds

Sub modeling technique Effective Notch stress method require a fine mesh to capture the notch peak stresses which makes it virtually impossible in most practical situations to analyze large structures with all details required. The solution to this is to use sub modeling technique where a small but detailed model can use the results from a large model with a course mesh.

Fatigue assessment of welds

Key points in sub modeling analysis There is no need to know in advance if a sub model is required. The geometry of the sub model must over lap the geometry of the global model.
Sub model

Global model

Sub model & global model shown together

Fatigue assessment of welds

Work flow in sub modeling 1. Set up and analyze the global model. 2. Create and mesh the sub model as a separate model - Define cut boundaries. 3. Resume the global model and switch to post processing - Load desired load set. - Perform cut boundary interpolation based on cut boundaries from sub model. 4. Go back to sub model, read the file containing the cut boundary displacement, apply other relevant boundary conditions and solve.

Fatigue assessment of welds

Workbench command objects and live demonstration Sub modeling in ANSYS Classic environment is fairly straight forward but this capability is not implemented in WB yet, but can easily be handled by a command object. A command object is a sequence of ANSYS (Classic) commands that are executed in sequence performing the tasks required. The next demonstration will demonstrate the work flow from CAD-model, preparation of analysis model including sub modeling process and fatigue evaluation in the WorkBench Environment. Influence of geometrical imperfection will be the object of interest in the demonstration.

Live demo

Live demo

Fatigue Analysis in ANSYS

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