Characterization and Simplified Modeling of the Failure Behavior of Spot Welds from Extra-High Strength Steels for Crash Simulation
Vehicle collision characteristics significantly influenced by spot welded joints in vehicle steel body components. In engineering practice, spot welds are normally not modeled in detail, but as connection elements which transfer forces and moments. Therefore a proper methodology for the development detailed weld model to study structural response of the weld when the applied load range is beyond the yield strength discussed in this paper. Threedimensional finite element (FE) models of spot welded joints are developed using LS-Dyna. Simple spot weld models are developed based on the detailed model behavior developed earlier. In order to generate testing data, virtual tensile testing simulations are carried out with mesh sensitivity in the necking zone.
