EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON FATIGUE STRENGTH OF LARGE-SIZE OUT-OF-PLANE GUSSET WELDED JOINTS FOCUSING ON SIZE EFFECT

Abstract

 In this study, fatigue tests of large-size out-of-plane gusset welded joint specimens with gusset lengths of 200, 400, and 800 mm, as well as main plate thicknesses of 9, 25, and 40 mm were conducted under axial tensile loading to investigate the effects of the geometric parameters on fatigue strength. As results of the fatigue tests, it was found that the fatigue strength decreases with increase in gusset plate length, while the fatigue strength does not always decrease with increase in main plate thickness. Crack propagation analysis, which was modified to correspond to the fatigue test results, was also conducted to confirm the size effect of the out-of-plane gusset welded joints on the fatigue strength.