Warnings by WeldFEM are non critical messages. In general, they don't require any action from the user, yet it is recommended to solve the issue causing the warning before assessing the welds with WeldFEM.

A list of possible warning messages are listed in this chapter. They can be found quickly by searching for their message.

Improper FE-Model


Implausible rigid connections found in the FE-model.

Cause

The FE-model contains rigid connections that are problematic for a correct assessment of the welds with WeldFEM.

Solution

Please revise the FE-mesh at the indicated locations. Informations on how to mesh WeldFEM compliant rigid connections is given in Chapter WeldFEM Compliant Meshing. Problematic elements or element connections are gathered in specific Femap groups.

Consequence If Ignored

The consequences of assessing welds, modelled with implausible rigid connections can vary. Yet, in most cases WeldFEM will not detect weld elements correctly, which could lead to not assessing every element directly at the weld, as shown in chapter Weld Detection Considerations.


Coarse mesh detected.

Cause

The main cause for a coarse mesh to be detected by WeldFEM is that the edge length perpendicular to the weld of the element directly at the weld junction is too large.

Solution

The FE-mesh at the weld junction is too coarse. Please consider re-meshing the area close to the weld junctions of concern. For recommendations how to solve the issue, see chapter Element Size Recommendations. Problematic elements or element connections are gathered in specific Femap groups.

Consequence If Ignored

For coarse FE-meshes that render only one element per evaluation area, the assessment is still performed and utilisation factors are calculated.

These utilisation factors could possibly render inaccurate results.

    • For assessments that follow the nominal stress concept (DVS 1608, DVS 1612 and EN 13001-3-1) it means, the stress results of the one FE-element are decisive for the calculation of its utilisation factor.
    • For assessments that follow the structural stress concept (Eurocode 3) it means, no extrapolation of stresses is possible, since the extrapolation points are inside the same element. The stress results of the one FE-element are therefore solely decisive for the calculation of its utilisation factor.


Fine mesh detected.

Cause

The cause for a fine mesh to be detected by WeldFEM is that the maximum recursive depth of the weld detecting algorithm has been reached.

Solution

The FE-mesh at the weld junction is too fine. Please consider re-meshing the area close to the weld junctions of concern. For recommendations how to solve the issue, see chapter Element Size Recommendations. Problematic elements or element connections are gathered in specific Femap groups.

Consequence If Ignored

The assessment of the weld is still performed and utilisation factors are calculated. These utilisation factors could possibly render inaccurate results, since not all elements inside the evaluation range have been detected and therefore, information is missing. This is valid for both types of assessment, the nominal stress concept and the structural stress concept.