APPLICATION OF FRACTURE MECHANICS TO THE PROBLEM OF FATIGUE IN WELDED STRUCTURES

It is shown that although stress-endurance data obtained from welded details are of wide practical value, there are limitations to be general applicability of such data. Particular problem areas outside the scope of standard fatigue testing include consideration of welds of widely varying geometry (e.g. variations of initial flaw size and critical crack size) and different loading spectra. It is described how the fracture mechanics crack propagation law can be used to approach these problems. The limitations to the simple crack propagation law are discussed and examples given of its application for predicting the fatigue behavior of welded joints and rationalizing stress-endurance data obtained from welded joints containing flaws of varying types and dimensions.

• Corporate Authors:

  Societe Belge des Mecaniciens

  21, rue des Drapiers
  B-1050 Brussels,   Belgium 
• Authors:
  • Maddox, S J
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 49-56
• Serial:
  • Revue M-Mecanique
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Societe Belge des Mecaniciens

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Fatigue cracking; Fracture mechanics; Joints; Welds
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation; Welded joints
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057627
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 22 1974 12:00AM