Fatigue Strength Of Welded Structures

The key to avoidance of fatigue, which is the main cause of service failures, is good design. In the case of welded joints, which are particularly susceptible to fatigue, design rules are available. However, their effective use requires a good understanding of fatigue and an appreciation of problems concerned with their practical application. Fatigue strength of welded structures has incorporates up-to-date design rules with high academic standards whilst still achieving a practical approach to the subject. The book presents design recommendations which are based largely on those contained in recent British standards and explains how they are applied in practice. Attention is also focused on the relevant aspects of fatigue in welded joints which are not yet incorporated in codes thus providing a comprehensive aid for engineers concerned with the design or assessment of welded components or structures. Background information is given on the fatigue lives of welded joints which will enable the engineer or student to appreciate why there is such a contrast between welded and unwelded parts, why some welded joints perform better than others and how joints can be selected to optimise fatigue performance.

An English version of a sucessful German book. Both traditional and modern concepts are described.

These recommendations present general methods for the assessment of fatigue damage in welded components, which may affect the limit states of a structure, such as ultimate limit state and serviceability limited state. Fatigue resistance data is given for welded components made of wrought or extruded products of ferritic/pearlitic or banitic structural steels up to fy = 700 Mpa and of aluminium alloys commonly used for welded structures.

The weld toe is a primary source of fatigue cracking because of the severity of the stress concentration it produces. Weld toe improvement can increase the fatigue strength of new structures significantly. It can also be used to repair or upgrade existing structures. However, in practice there have been wide variations in the actual improvements in fatigue strength achieved. Based on an extensive testing programme organised by the IIW, this report reviews the main methods for weld toe improvement to increase fatigue strength: burr grinding, TIG dressing and hammer and needle peening. The report provides specifications for the practical use of each method, including equipment, weld preparation and operation. It also offers guidance on inspection, quality control and training as well as assessments of fatigue strength and thickness effects possible with each technique. IIW recommendations on methods for improving the fatigue strength of welded joints will allow a more consistent use of these methods and more predictable increases in fatigue strength. Provides specifications for the practical use of each weld toe method, including equipment, weld preparation and operation Offers guidance on inspection, quality control and training, as well as assessments of fatigue strength and thickness effects possible with each technique This report will allow a more consistent use of these methods and more predictable increases in fatigue strength