Evaluation of Crack Initiation Points of Load-Carrying Cruciform Welded Joints Based on Effective Notch Stress Approach
Abstract: For fatigue
assessment, recently effective notch stress (ENS) approach is accepted as a valid alternative to fracture
mechanics approaches in Japan. However, at least one study showed that the
fatigue assessment at weld root of load-carrying cruciform welded joints based
on ENS approach does not capture the influence of plate thickness, weld size
and weld penetration. Consequently, there are still uncertainties about the
fatigue assessment. This paper discusses the evaluation method of the joints
based on ENS approach. Effects of weld size, weld penetration, and plate
thickness on ENS are determined by using fine-meshed FEM analyses. Validity of
this method is determined by comparing the evaluation results with fracture
mechanics approach. It is shown that results from this method are comparable to
those of the previous study and the results seem to be conservative when ratio
of weld penetration to plate thickness becomes smaller and plate thickness
becomes larger.
Keywords: Crack initiation
point; effective notch stress; load-carrying cruciform welded joints; weld root
Author: Kinoshita, K.,
Arakawa, S
Journal Code: jptsipilgg140029
