Welding Length Estimation Based on Lightweight Model for Construction of Offshore Structures

Lightweight models are widely used for a design review and process control in plant construction. Such models are mainly composed of triangular elements, minimizing the file size and increasing the visibility. The welding process is the most time-consuming and costly process in plant construction. Thus, it is import to accurately estimate the amount of welding required for efficient management. In this study, we propose a method for extracting weld lines based on lightweight models that can be quickly and easily accessed. Edges and surfaces are classified using triangular meshes, and each shape is represented using a boundary representation method. The weld line is the part where two shapes make contact. For an efficient search, overlaps are checked in order of the model, face, and edge. In addition, the weld type and position information are generated.