Variation simulation and diagnosis considering in-plane/out-of-plane welding distortion

Abstract

Geometric variation including welding distortion accumulates as many parts are joined together, ultimately affecting the final product. This variation is then subjected to correction, which requires considerable effort, time, and cost. This variation can be categorized as in-plane/out-of-plane variation. To date, studies on variation simulation have largely focused on the out-of-plane variation, however the variation generated in the in-plane direction requires more time and efforts to correct afterwards. This research aims to construct a variation simulation model considering both the in-plane and out-of-plane variations. A geometric analysis was performed to derive an equation that reflects the coupling effect of the out-of-plane variation on the in-plane variation. The proposed model is validated with case study analysis and the results shows that good fidelity in predicting and diagnosing the in-plane variation during the block assembly process considering welding distortion.