CWELD

Format

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Alternate Formats of CWELD Card - PARTPAT/ELPAT

The alternative formats of CWELD listed below are useful in cases when the weld diameter extends beyond a single shell element. These options connect up to 3x3 shell elements per patch (possibly more for triangular elements) on each side of weld element.

Format (Alternate)

Example 1 (Alternate)

Example 2 (Alternate)

Definitions

Comments

1. CWELD defines a flexible connection between two surface patches, between a point and a surface patch, or between two shell vertex grid points.

   
   
   Figure 1. Connection Between Two Surface Patches

   
   
   Figure 2. Connection Between a Point and a Surface Patch

   
   
   Figure 3. Connection Between Two Shell Vertex Grid Points

2. GS is ignored, if TYP is ALIGN.
3. If TYP is GRIDID, either a point to patch (GS to GA#) or a patch to patch (GA# to GB#) connection is defined. For the patch to patch connection, GA# describes the first surface patch and GB# describes the second surface patch.
4. The input of the piercing points GA and GB is optional when TYP is GRIDID and ELEMID. If GA or GB are not specified, they are generated from the normal projection of GS onto the surface patches. If GA and/or GB are specified, they take precedence over GS in defining the respective end points. Also, their locations will be corrected so that they lie on surface patch A and B, respectively. If GS is not specified, both GA and GB are required. The length of the connector is the distance from GA to GB.
5. SPTYP defines the type of surface patches to be connected. SPTYP is required when TYP is GRIDID to identify quadrilateral or triangular patches. Valid combinations are:

   SPTYP

   Description

   QQ

   Connects a quadrilateral surface patch A (QUAD4 or QUAD8) with a quadrilateral surface patch B (QUAD4 or QUAD8).

   QT

   Connects a quadrilateral surface patch A (QUAD4 or QUAD8) with a triangular surface patch B (TRIA3 or TRIA6).

   TT

   Connects a triangular surface patch A (TRIA3 or TRIA6) with a triangular surface patch B (TRIA3 or TRIA6).

   TQ

   Connects a triangular surface patch A (TRIA3 or TRIA6) with a quadrilateral surface patch B (QUAD4 or QUAD8).

   Q

   Connects a grid point GB (or GS if GB not provided) with a quadrilateral surface patch A (QUAD4 or QUAD8). Surface patch B should not be specified.

   T

   Connects a grid point GB (or GS if GB not provided) with a triangular surface patch A (TRIA3 or TRIA6). Surface patch B should not be specified.

6. GA# are required when TYP is GRIDID. At least 3, and at most 8, grid IDs may be specified for GA#. Triangular and quadrilateral element definition sequences apply for the order of GA# and GB#. Missing mid-side nodes are allowed.

   
   
   Figure 4. Quadrilateral and Triangular Surface Patches as Defined when TYP is GRIDID

7. When TYP is ELEMID, a point to patch connection is defined, GS to SHIDA or a patch to patch connection, SHIDA to SHIDB. SHIDA and SHIDB must be valid shell element identification numbers.
8. When TYP is ALIGN, a point to point connection is defined. GA and GB are required. GA and GB are not required when TYP is GRIDID or ELEMID.
9. Forces and moments are output in the element coordinate system.

   The element x-axis points from GA to GB. The element y-axis lies on the plane created by the element x-axis and the smallest component of the element x-axis in the basic coordinate system, and is orthogonal to the element x-axis. The element z-axis is the cross-product of the element x-axis and the element y-axis.

10. The output format of the forces and moments, including the sign convention, is identical to the CBAR element.

    
    
    Figure 5. Element Coordinate System and Sign Convention of Element Forces

11. Diagnostic printouts, checkout runs and non-default setting of search and projection parameters are requested on the SWLDPRM Bulk Data Entry. It is recommended to start with default settings.
12. The formats PARTPAT and ELPAT connect shell element patches on side A and B. The patches are identified by specifying SHIDA and SHIDB (for ELPAT connection) and by specifying property IDs PIDA and PIDB for PARTPAT connection (wherein SHIDA and SHIDB are found by appropriate search of best projections of GS (or GA) onto the surfaces A and B, respectively). The piercing points GA and GB are found by appropriate projections onto SHIDA and SHIDB. Then the axis GA-GB is used to define four pairs of auxiliary points GAHi, GBHi, i=1,4 that are located on patches A and B, respectively. The cross-section area of the resulting hexahedral is equivalent to the area of the weld. The weld stiffness matrix is first built using the auxiliary points and then constrained to supporting shell nodes using respective shape functions.

    
    
    Figure 6.

13. Fastener elements are ignored in heat transfer analysis.
14. Supported local entries in specific parts can be referenced by the use of "fully-qualified references" on CBAR entries in the model. A fully-qualified reference ("PartName.number") is similar to the format of a numeric reference. "PartName" is the name of the part that contains the referenced local entry (part names are defined on the BEGIN Bulk Data Entry in the model). "number" is the identification number of a referenced local entry in the part "PartName". Refer to Parts and Instances in the User Guide for detailed information on the use of fully-qualified references.
15. This card is represented as a rod element in HyperMesh.