FATSEAM

Bulk Data Entry Used to define parameters and property identification data for Seam Weld Fatigue Analysis.

Format

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
FATSEAM ID WTYPE REFEID WLDSIDE
PSHELL PID1 PID2 etc etc etc etc PID7
PID8 PID9 etc
ELSET SETID1 SETID2 SETID3 SETID4 SETID5 SETID6 SETID7
SETID8 SETID9 SETID10 etc

Definitions

Field Contents SI Unit Example
ID Each FATSEAM card must have a unique ID.

No default (Integer > 0)
WTYPE Weld type.
FILLET
Fillet
OVLAP
Overlap
LOVLAP
Laser Overlap
LEOVLAP
Laser Edge Overlap
BUTT
Butt joint (only for Joint line method)
L
L fillet joint (only for Joint line method)
T
T fillet joint (only for Joint line method)
GENERIC
Generic joint (only for Joint line method)

No default
REFEID Reference element identification number. 3

Default = blank (Integer > 0)
WLDSIDE Weld side. 4
NORMAL
ANORMAL
blank (Default)

(Integer)
PSHELL Indicates that the following property fields reference PSHELL entries.
PIDi Property identifier of weld elements. 1

No default (Integer > 0)
ELSET Indicates the following fields reference element SET IDs.
SETIDi Element SET ID of weld elements. 1

No default (Integer > 0)

Comments

  1. For the Volvo method (METHOD=VOLVO on FATPARM), the seam weld elements should be modeled with CQUAD4 or CTRIA3 elements only that reference PSHELL properties. CTRIA3 elements should only be used for corner or end closing. For the Volvo method, both PSHELL and ELSET continuation lines can be used to identify the weld elements. In the case of ELSETs, they should only reference sets of CQUAD4 or CTRIA3 elements that reference PSHELLs.

    For the Joint Line method (METHOD=JNTLINE on FATPARM), the seam weld elements should be modeled with PLOTEL elements only. The FATDEFnode numbering of the PLOTELs is not relevant and the PLOTEL elements only serve to identify the weld line and do not structurally affect the solution. For the Joint Line method, only the ELSET continuation line can be used to identify the set(s) of PLOTEL elements.

  2. The FATDEF Bulk Data Entry may reference this identifier via the FATSEAM continuation line.
  3. REFEID defaults are governed by the following conditions:
    • If WTYPE is set to T, REFEID is mandatory.
    • If WTYPE is set to L, and there are three shell plates joined at the weld line, then REFEID is mandatory.
  4. WLDSIDE defaults are governed by the following conditions:
    • If WTYPE is set to T, GENERIC, and BUTT, then WLDSIDE is not mandatory.
    • If WTYPE is set to L and there are three shell plates joined at the weld line, then WLDSIDE is mandatory.
    • If WTYPE is set to L and there are two shell plates joined at the weld line, and WLDSIDE is blank, then the weld is located at the smaller angle side of the two shell plates.
  5. If specified, REFEID and WLDSIDE are used together to identify the direction in which the weld exists. REFEID identifies an element connected to the weld line, and WLDSIDE identifies the direction of the weld, with respect to the element normal of the element identified via REFEID. Figure 1 can help clarify how the weld location is identified. EVALDIS is the evaluation distance specified on the PFATSMW entry.
    Figure 1. L Fillet Joint Example (WTYPE=L)