FATIGUE STRENGTH EVALUATION METHOD FOR WELDED JOINTS BETWEEN MAIN GIRDER WEB AND LATERAL GIRDER FLANGE CONSIDERING INFLUENCE OF BI-AXIAL FORCE

Abstract

 Welded joints between main girder web and lateral girder flange in girder type steel bridges are usually subjected to bi-axial stresses which are stress on the web and stress on the flange. In this study, for the purpose of obtaining the estimation formula for fatigue strength of the welded joints considering influence of bi-axial force, 3-D FEM stress analyses and fatigue tests have been performed on model specimens with various weld shapes and plate thickness. In this formula, stress increment due to bi-axial force has been paid attention. The estimation formula could simulate the tendency of the fatigue test results.