Digital simulation of welding

The rear crossmember is an essential component of a car's chassis, integrating numerous functions linked to vehicle handling. On the second-generation Citroën C3, this deformable crossmember is made up of a large number of stamped sheet metal parts assembled by arc welding. The impact of the welding process on the geometry and final strength of the part greatly complicates the process development phase, and may require several iterations with the design work. The objectives of the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group, in terms of reducing lead times and costs and increasing quality, therefore argue in favor of a digital approach to the welding process. Even if software is not yet able to model all the physics of the process, the accuracy achieved with the simplified approaches applied today is already quite satisfactory, and digital welding simulation therefore appears more than ever to be a valuable tool for reconciling and achieving these different objectives.