Fatigue life prediction of in-plane gusset welded joints using strain energy density factor approach

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth behavior of in-plane gusset welded joints is studied using the strain energy density factor approach. Fatigue tests were performed in order to estimate fatigue strength under tension. Fatigue crack growth analysis was carried out to show the effects of the initial crack shape, the initial crack length, and the stress ratio on the crack types of in-plane gusset welded joints. The assumed crack types were edge crack, semi-elliptical crack, and corner crack. Fatigue crack growth parameters were obtained from crack growth curves assuming constant crack shapes for the given crack types. The results of analysis for the assumed crack types agreed well with the experimental data. The fatigue life did not change as initial crack shape varied for a given initial crack length. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.