Software package for simulation and prediction of welding solidification cracks

In the present work, a software system is developed that can simulate and predict welding solidification cracks, based on previous work on welding solidification crack simulation in stainless steels. First, it assists users in discretising the welding workpiece, calculating welding heat input distribution, inputting material properties, and generating input data cards. Second, the system runs commercial finite element calculation software on the basis of input data cards. Third, the system performs data treatment to provide the user with simulated results in the form of contours, three-dimensional plots, and featured curves such as welding temperature cycles and strain - stress cycles. Next, the system carries out regression analysis on experimental data from transverse Varestraint testing to determine the resistance of the material to welding solidification cracking. Finally, the system calculates the curves of strain evolution with temperature at the trailing edge of the mushy region in the weld pool to obtain the driving force for welding solidification cracking. Consequently, the system can predict welding solidification cracking by presenting users with the driving force and resistance curves in one figure. The software package is developed mainly using Visual Basic and its graphical functions are achieved with the assistance of the Matlab software packages.