Improving Global Quality of Life

In order to make the developments in the field available to practical users as well as the scientific community,
a number of software codes have been made available in all fields related to welding. These include the
prediction of the weld parameters and the weld properties as well as the simulation of the microstructure
evolution in the HAZ. Examples are shown in Figure 4.10, where the left image shows a screenshot of the
process software WELDSIM and the right image the software MatCalc for simulation of the precipitate
evolution in the HAZ.
Figure 4.10 Development of computer software: WELDSIM (left) and MatCalc (right)
(Reproduced courtesy: N. Enzinger and E. Kozeschnik, Graz University of Technology)
If modelling and simulation continues to grow at the present speed, significant progress in the prediction
of welding processes and microstructure evolution is to be expected in the future. This will affect the
understanding of the mechanisms of welding and will enable increasingly more accurate prediction of the
weld and entire component properties. Computer codes will continue to represent major research and
engineering tools in research and development of welding procedures and will also help in developing new
concepts to open the way for joining materials and components which are not yet accessible by established
techniques. The most important impact of modelling and simulation is given by the fact that the development
times and costs for welding applications and procedures can be drastically reduced.
4.6 Strategies to meet scientific challenges
One of the major challenges of welding and joining technologies is to improve quality and productivity at
the applied side of the community. On the other side, scientific challenges require research efforts (more of
a fundamental nature) to generate innovation and better understanding of the complex issues of process,
material, inspection and structural performance of welding and joining. The strategy to meet scientific
challenges of 2020 should be described both in fundamental and applied research terms.
Basic research should provide the means to resolve key issues of welding science by transforming the
welding and joining technology from “empirical-based” to “physical-based” process to cover the entire lifecycle
of the welded product. This requires parallel knowledge building in the physical, chemical, materials
sciences, mechanical and mechanics areas to tackle challenges of welding science.
A creation of a knowledge based “virtual factory” requires better understanding of the relationships between
“3Ps”, Process-Property-Performance of welded products and modelling of these stages as an integral
system. To achieve that goal, it is essential to ensure that welding process and welding mechanics specialists
are included in product/project design teams and that welding, and joining as well as service performance
32 Improving Global Quality of Life Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies