Application of 3D shell element in welding thermal elastic-plastic finite element analysis

Based on Abaqus code, shell elements with section integration were used to conduct the thermal elastic-plastic numerical simulation of butt-welded plate. A 2D shell model was established, and a mixed moving heat source comprised of uniform body and Gauss surface flux was adopted to describe the distribution of input energy. The material physical properties, including specific heat and conductive coefficient, were temperature dependent. The results show that the temperature and deformation during welding process were in good agreement with those by 3D solid model, and the shell model with nonuniform thickness considering the effect of weld fillet could enhance the deformation result further. Compared with solid elements, the shell model could obtain the same calculation accuracy and work more efficiently.