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This paper aims to propose a macro modeling approach to simulate the mechanical behavior and the failure of spot welded joints in structural crashworthiness computations.

A connector element is proposed to simulate the behavior and failure of spot weld joints. An elastic-plastic damageable model is used to describe the non-linear response and rupture. The connector model involves several parameters that have to be defined. Some are directly identified based on mechanical interpretations and experimental tests characteristics. The remaining parameters are identified through a finite element model updating approach using Arcan tests. Resulting from a sensitivity analysis, an original two steps optimization methodology, using the Modes I and II Arcan tests results sequentially, has been implemented to identify the remaining model parameters.

The numerical results for Arcan tests in mixed Modes I/II are in a good agreement with the experimental ones. The model is also validated on tensile pull-out, single lap shear and coach-peel tests.

By comparison with previous published results, the proposed model brings a significant improvement. The main innovative aspects of this work are as follows: the proposed formulation, a reduced number of parameters to optimize, an original sequential optimization methodology based on physical and mechanical analyses and a mesh size independent connector element.