Main GUI
WeldFEM's main GUI, as shown below, is divided into four sections: Primary Toolbar, Message Window, Secondary Toolbar and the WeldFEM Version.
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Explanation of icons from left to right:
Load WeldFEM Project
Loads a previously saved WeldFEM-Project-File (.wfp-File).
Save WeldFEM Project
Saves the current weld assessment status as a WeldFEM-Project-File (.wfp-File).
Options
Provides access to the following tabs from left to right:
Calculation: Specifies the program settings for the weld assessment according to the standard to be applied.
Weld-Detection: Defines the weld detection procedure for the FE-model currently loaded in the FEA software.
License Info: Displays a table of WeldFEM features and their license status.
Note: WeldFEM remembers settings used for a project, as long as the corresponding WeldFEM‑folder is kept.
Weld Editor
Provides access to assessment dependent parameters for all detected welds, highlight them and plot results, once they have been calculated.
Furthermore the status of each weld is displayed.
Note: Weld-Options can be accessed after a weld detection has been conducted.
Weld Manager
The Weld Manager enables to split detected welds, thus create a new weld, as well as to reassign welds to others, thus gather similar welds into one.
Note: Weld Manager can only be accessed after a weld detection has been conducted.
Show Online Help
Opens up this WeldFEM manual in the most recent issue.
Check for Updates
Verifies whether an updated version of WeldFEM version is available. In this case a download is offered.
The Main GUI footer also informs about available updates.
The message window summarizes and displays information about the progress of weld detection and the evaluation of stress data.
Reset
Discards the current weld detection and assessment status.
Note: The selected settings in Options are not affected by the reset.
Abort
Cancels any running calculation or weld detection.
Detect Welds
Performs a check and the detection of welds in the currently loaded FE model.
Process StressData (Recalculate StressData)
When Process StressData is initiated for the first time it calls the FEA software for the hand over of stress data and runs the weld assessment according to the selected assessment standard.
After the stress data have been made available by the FEA software the button turns into Recalculate StressData and performs repeated assessment runs without loading the stress data again.
Note: After the first assessment for all welds WeldFEM effectively calculates utilisation factors only for those welds which assessment parameters have been changed.
Recalculate All
In case Recalculate All is checked WeldFEM will recalculate the utilisation factors of every weld, once the next recalculation is initiated.
Renew StressData
Checking Renew StressData will invoke a refresh hand over of all stress data by the FEA software, once the next recalculation is initiated.
Displays the current version of WeldFEM.
Note: In case the current WeldFEM version is outdated, a hint will be given here.