Abstract
Based on long time engineering research and dedicated
collaborations with industry, a new welding software,
SORPAS, has been developed for simulation of
resistance projection and spot welding processes
applying the powerful finite element method (FEM).
In order to make the software directly usable by
engineers and technicians in industry, all of the
important parameters in resistance welding are
considered and automatically implemented into the
software. With the specially designed graphic user
interface for Windows, engineers (even without prior
knowledge of FEM) can quickly learn and easily operate
and utilize the software. All industrial users, including
welding engineers from DaimlerChrysler, Volkswangen,
PSA Peugeot Citroen, VOLVO, Siemens, ABB and so
on, have started using the software just after taking a
one-day training course.
With the user-friendly facilities for flexible geometric
design of work pieces and electrodes as well as process
parameter settings similar to real machine settings, the
software has been readily applied in industry for
supporting product development and process
optimization. After simulation, the dynamic process
parameters are graphically displayed. The distributions
of temperature, current, stress and deformation in the
materials are displayed in color, which can be animated
like slow-motion video. The software has been
extensively verified and today applied in various
industries including automotive, electronics and other
metal processing industries as well as welding
equipment manufacturers
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. |
| Pages (from-to) | 105-113 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |