# US 2014/0156240 A1 · Simulation Method And Apparatus Of The Effects Of A Welding Process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156240 A1 - Document ID: US20140156240A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,875 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Inventors: Leardo Ruggenenti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156240A1 ## CPC - G06F 30/23: using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] - G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) - G06F 2111/10: Numerical modelling - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a simulation method and apparatus of the deformations and inner tensions generated by a welding process of metal parts suitable for composing a metal structure. Methods are described for simulation using a simulation programme to calculate the deformations and tensions generated by the welding of metal parts suitable for composing a metal structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method of simulation using a simulation programme to calculate the deformations and tensions generated by the welding of metal parts suitable for composing a metal structure, comprising the steps of: a) providing the simulation programme with information relative to the geometric characteristics and information relative to the characteristics of the material to be welded; b) defining the welding areas; c) providing the simulation programme with information relative to the welding characteristics; d) defining at least one welding sequence; e) performing, for each welding sequence and depending on the information obtained in steps a)-c), a simulation of the deformations and inner tensions generated by a welding process by means of said computerised simulation programme; f) visualising the result of said simulation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the geometric characteristics comprises the three-dimensional model of the structure, and wherein the information relative to the characteristics of the material of the structure to be welded comprises: the unit tensile breaking strength, the unit yielding value, Young modulus, Poisson modulus, coefficient of thermic transmission, coefficient of thermic dilation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) comprises: sub-dividing the structure into two or more substructures to be welded; defining the welding areas between the substructures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the welding type and welding data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the geometric characteristics of the welding bead or spots. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the geometric characteristics of the welding gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the number of welding passes and, in the case of more than one pass, the diagram of superimposition of the sub-beads. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the characteristics of the sealing material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises the pass speed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics also comprises an indication of the environmental conditions at which the welding is performed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the welding characteristics comprises at least one indication of the support method of the parts to be welded. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing the simulation programme with information relative to at least one limit value of the deformation caused by the welding between two parts of the structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein in step f) only the result of welding simulations the deformations of which do not exceed said limit value are visualised. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information items obtained in steps a)-d) is supplied selecting from a plurality of information items proposed by the simulation programme. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) Method according to claim 12, wherein said information relative to at least one limit value of the deformation is supplied before the information relative to the welding sequence, and wherein said information relative to the welding sequence is selected from one or more welding sequences proposed by the simulation programme and able to comply with the deformation requisite imposed by said at least one limit value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of visualising the result of the simulation comprises a visualisation of the partial results relative to the single welds of the welding sequence. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the simulation programme is based on an analysis of the finite elements. ### Claim 18 Electronic apparatus for simulating the deformations and tensions generated by the welding of metal parts suitable for composing a metal structure, comprising: memorisation means containing a simulation programme suitable for implementing a simulation method of the deformations and tensions generated by a welding process according to any of the previous claims; first input means, suitable for permitting a user to provide said simulation programme with information relative to the geometric characteristics and information relative to the characteristics of the material of the structure to be welded; second input means, suitable for permitting a user to provide said simulation programme with information relative to the welding areas; third input means, suitable for permitting a user to provide said simulation programme with information relative to the welding characteristics; fourth input means, suitable for permitting a user to provide said simulation programme with information relative to at least one welding sequence; visualisation means suitable for visualising the result of said simulation; ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Electronic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said simulation programme implements a method of the finite elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) Computer program product directly loadable in the internal memory of a computer and comprising portions of software code suitable for implementing the simulation method according to claim 1 when the programme is run on a computer.