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

Bending

Membrane

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

End of Presentation
Thank you for listening!!