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Create welds

Tekla Structures
2022
Tekla Structures

Create welds

You can either create a weld manually, or use a component that automatically creates welds.

By default, Tekla Structures places the welds to the arrow side using the Above line properties according to the ISO standard. You can change this to Below line to comply with the AISC standard with the advanced option XS_​AISC_​WELD_​MARK.

Create a weld between parts

Weld two parts together using the weld position defined in the Weld properties. The length of the weld depends on the length of the connection between the welded parts.

  1. On the Steel tab, click Weld > Create weld between parts.
  2. Select the part to weld to.

    If you are creating a workshop weld, this is the main part of the assembly.

  3. Select the part to be welded.

    If you are creating a workshop weld, this is the secondary part of the assembly.

    (1) Main part

    (2) Secondary part

Create a weld to a part

You can create a weld to a single part, without connecting any other parts.

  1. On the Steel tab, click Weld > Create weld to part.
  2. Select the part that you want to weld.
  3. Pick the starting and end point, or alternatively, pick the points you want the weld to go through.
  4. Click the middle mouse button to create the weld.

Example

Use the Create weld to part command to weld seams in tubular sections:

Tip:

To model tubular sections with visible seams, use the SPD profile.

Create a polygon weld

Create polygon welds when you want to define the exact position of the weld by picking the points you want the weld to traverse.

If you want to create double-sided polygon welds, define both the Above line and Below line properties.

  1. On the Steel tab, click Weld > Create polygon weld.
  2. Select the part to weld to.

    If you are creating a workshop weld, this is the main part of the assembly.

  3. Select the part to be welded.

    If you are creating a workshop weld, this is the secondary part of the assembly.

  4. Pick the starting and end point, or alternatively, pick the points you want the weld to go through.

    To create a double-sided polygon weld, pick the polygon points on one side of the part to be welded. Tekla Structures automatically searches for the corresponding points on the other side of the part.

  5. Click the middle mouse button to create the weld.
  6. If needed, modify the weld by dragging the handles.

Example

This example shows a double-sided polygon weld along three (outer and inner) edges of a rectangular hollow profile:

Weld properties

Use the Weld properties to view or modify the properties of a weld. The units depend on the settings in File menu > Settings > Options > Units and decimals.

Note:

Some of the properties are only displayed in reports, not in drawings.

Setting

Description

Common attributes

Edge/Around

Indicates whether only one edge or the entire perimeter of a face should be welded.

Edge:

Around:

Workshop/Site

Indicates where the weld should be made. This setting affects assemblies and drawings.

Workshop:

Site:

Position

Not available for polygon welds.

Defines the position of a weld relative to the work plane. The type and position of the parts to be welded affect the position of the weld.

The options for weld position are:

  • + x

  • - x

  • + y

  • - y

  • + z

  • - z

In most cases, Tekla Structures creates the weld on the face or side of the part that faces in the selected direction (x, y, or z). Also the following factors may affect the position of the weld:

  • perpendicularity of the part edge towards the selected direction (x, y or z)

  • length of the part edge

  • distance of the part edge in the selected direction (x, y or z)

The following image shows welds in different positions:

Shape

The shape of the weld can be:

  • (Regular, continuous weld)

  • (Intermittent weld)

  • (Staggered, intermittent weld)

Connect as

See Use welds to create assemblies.

Placement

Defines how the weld is placed in relation to the assembly parts.

The options are:

  • Auto

    The weld placement adapts to the typical situation of the weld type.

    Square-, V-, and U-groove welds are located in the middle of the main and secondary parts. Single-bevel and J-groove welds are located on the secondary part side.

    This is the default option.

  • Main part

    The weld is located fully on the main part side.

    Does not affect V- or U-groove welds.

  • Secondary part

    The weld is located fully on the secondary part side.

    Does not affect V- or U-groove welds.

Preparation

Defines which assembly parts, if any, are automatically prepared for welding.

The options are:

  • None

    Parts are not prepared for welding.

    This is the default option.

  • Auto

    Parts are prepared for welding according to the weld type.

  • Main part

    The main part is prepared for welding.

  • Secondary part

    The secondary part is prepared for welding.

Weld

Prefix

The weld size prefix. Shown in drawings, but only if the weld size is also defined.

The standard ISO 2553 prefixes are:

  • a - Design throat thickness

  • s - Penetration throat thickness

  • z - Leg length

Note that if the last character of the prefix is s, Tekla Structures creates the solid weld object according to the right-hand image so that a equals weld size.

Type

See the list of weld types below.

Size

The size of the weld.

If you enter a zero or negative weld size, Tekla Structures creates the weld, but does not display it in drawings.

For compound weld types and , you can enter two size values.

Angle

The angle of weld preparation, bevels, or groove.

Enter a positive value for bevel and groove welds.

Tekla Structures displays the angle between the weld type symbol and the fill type contour symbol.

Contour

The fill type contour of a weld can be:

  • None

  • Flush

  • Convex

  • Concave

This setting does not affect solid weld objects.

Finish

Tekla Structures displays the finish symbol above the weld type symbol in drawings. The options are:

  • G (Grind)

  • M (Machine)

  • C (Chip)

  • (Flush finished weld)

  • (Smooth blended weld face)

This setting does not affect solid weld objects.

Root face

Root face thickness is the height of the narrowest part inside the root opening.

Root face values do not appear in drawings, but you can use the WELD_ROOT_FACE_THICKNESS template attribute in reports to show the root face dimension in the weld list.

Effective throat

The weld size used in weld strength calculation.

Root opening

The space between the welded parts.

Enter a positive value for square-groove welds.

# of incr.

The amount of increments in an intermittent weld.

Only use with the ISO standard.

Length

Defines the length value that is shown in the weld mark.

For intermittent welds, defines the length of an increment.

Does not affect continuous solid weld objects.

Pitch

If the advanced option XS_​AISC_​WELD_​MARK is set to TRUE, the center-to-center spacing of weld increments in an intermittent weld.

If the advanced option XS_​AISC_​WELD_​MARK is set to FALSE, the space between the weld increments in an intermittent weld.

Tekla Structures uses the – character by default to separate weld length and pitch, for example 50–100. To change the separator to @, for example, set the advanced option XS_WELD_LENGTH_CC_SEPARATOR_CHAR to @.

Use these buttons to copy and to link together the Above line and Below line property values.

Click the and buttons to copy values between the Below line and Above line columns.

Click the button to switch the linking on or off.

The middle button is yellow when the values are linked. This means that if you change a value in either of the columns, also the corresponding value in the other column changes.

Tail information

NDT inspection level

Defines the non-destructive testing and inspection level.

Electrode classification

Defines the weld electrode classification.

Electrode strength

Defines the electrode strength.

Electrode coefficient

Defines the electrode strength coefficient.

Process type

Defines the process type.

Reference text

Additional information to appear in the weld mark. For example, information about the weld specification or process.

The maximum number of characters that can be shown is 80, including one character for each line of text. To show long reference texts in reports, also adjust the template field length accordingly.

Note that the special characters are shown in weld marks in model views only if the Arial font supports the special characters.

More

UDAs

Click the User-defined attributes button to open the user-defined attributes (UDAs) of the weld. UDAs provide additional information about the weld.

List of weld types

Use the weld properties to define the weld type. Some weld types also automatically prepare the parts to be welded. The following table shows the available weld types:

Number

Type

Name

Optional automatic weld preparation

Supported solid weld object

0

None

No

No

10

Fillet weld

No

Yes

3

Bevel-groove (single-V butt weld)

Yes

Yes

4

Bevel-groove (single-bevel butt weld)

Yes

Yes

2

Square-groove (square butt weld)

Yes

Yes

5

Single-V butt weld with broad root face

Yes

Yes

6

Single-bevel butt weld with broad root face

Yes

Yes

7

U-groove weld (single-U butt weld)

Yes

Yes

8

J-groove weld (single-J butt weld)

Yes

Yes

16

Flare V-groove weld

No

No

15

Flare-bevel-groove weld

No

No

1

Edge-flange weld

No

No

17

Corner-flange weld

No

No

11

Plug weld

No

No

9

Bevel backing weld

No

No

12

Spot weld

No

No

13

Seam weld

No

No

14

Slot weld

No

No

18

Partial penetration weld (single-bevel butt + fillet)

No

Yes

19

Partial penetration weld (square groove + fillet)

No

Yes

20

Melt-through weld

No

No

21

Steep-flanked single-V butt weld

Yes

Yes

22

Steep-flanked single-bevel butt weld

Yes

Yes

23

Edge weld

No

No

24

Surfacing weld

No

No

25

Fold joint

No

No

26

Inclined joint

No

No

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