A local strain method for the evaluation of welded joints fatigue resistance: the case of thin main-plates thickness

摘要

Current procedures for evaluating fatigue strength of welded structures may not be consistent with the real fatigue behaviour of welded joints. A local strain method for the prediction of the WELded joints FAtigue REsistance (WELFARE), by local strain measurements at the weld toe, was recently proposed oil the basis of fatigue tests on more than 10 series of welded joints (T, cruciform, angular and butt joints) in structural steel, with 10-25 mm main-plate thickness. This paper reports fatigue test results obtained from 30 cruciform and butt welded joints (3-5 mm thick) under two load ratios (0.1 and - 1) in order to extend the applicability of the method to thin welded joints.