IDEA StatiCa Quick Tip: Understanding Weld Utilization in IDEA StatiCa
VIDEO: IDEA StatiCa Quick Tip: How to evaluate weld utilization
A common question in support is: "Why are my welds always 98 percent utilized?" This article and our ‘Quick Tip’ video clarifies this issue and provides a better understanding of weld utilization in IDEA StatiCa.
Analyzing Utilization
Naturaly, the stress distribution in welds varies with applied loads and geometric shape of the weld. For instance, in our example, the peak stress is 427 Mpa. When you run a code check on this connection, you see a weld utilization close to 100% percent and you might get worried about the design. This figure can be misleading if not interpreted correctly! To understand the true utilization, you need to also check the results tab to get the full picture.
In the results tab, weld utilizations are listed as `Ut` and `Utc`:
IMAGE: IDEA StatiCa results tab, weld Ut and Utc (click for large image)
Ut (Utilization of the Most Stressed Finite Element):
This indicates the peak stress within the weld, representing the highest stress encountered by any finite element.
Utc (Utilization of the Entire Weld):
This reflects the overall utilization of the weld, a better indication of the remaining capacity. It represents the ratio of actual stress across all weld elements to the design resistance of the entire weld length.
A simplified estimate of Utc involves dividing the stressed area by the total area. IDEA StatiCa uses a machine learning algorithm to estimate `Utc`, based on a vast dataset of welded connection models and various load scenarios. This approach accurately predicts remaining weld capacity, achieving accuracy within a 10 percent threshold.
Summary
Understanding the distinction between `Ut` and `Utc` and the methodologies used in IDEA StatiCa is important for accurately interpreting weld utilization. When you see a weld utilization close to 100%, check the detailed results for a complete picture of your weld's performance and remaining capacity to make better design decisions!
We hope this clarifies the frequent question regarding weld utilization in IDEA StatiCa!
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