Method and apparatus for providing a simulation of a welding process using integrated models

An apparatus for providing a simulation of a welding process using integrated models, the integrated models being interconnected by an interconnection tool to determine the stresses and distortions of a material being welded, comprising:

• a geometry modeler adapted to determine a model of a geometry of the material;
• a meshing tool adapted to define a set of coordinates of elements and nodes of the geometry model for a finite element analysis mesh;
• a thermal analysis model adapted to receive the finite element analysis mesh, determine a thermal analysis of the welding process, and responsively provide a thermal history of the welding process, wherein the thermal analysis model includes:
• an analytical solution model adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a global distortion analysis;
• and
• a finite element of analysis model adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a detailed residual stress analysis;
• and
• a structural analysis model adapted to provide a structural analysis of the welding process as a function of the thermal history.

A method for determining a thermal analysis of a welding process as a function of an analytical solution model for use in a simulation of a welding process, including the steps of:

• determining a set of adiabatic boundary conditions of a material being welded;
• determining a set of reflected heat sources as a function of the adiabatic boundary conditions;
• determining a set of point heat sources as a function of the reflected heat sources;
• determining a total analytical solution from superposition of the point heat sources;
• determining a thermal analysis of the welding process as the total analytical solution and one of an analytical solution model or a finite element analysis model, the analytical solution model being adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a global distortion analysis, and the finite element analysis model being adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a detailed residual stress analysis;
• delivering the thermal history of the welding process to a structural analysis model;
• and
• providing the structural analysis of the welding process as a function of the thermal history.