G0301004 Fatigue tests and life estimation with specimens sampled from welded structures

Abstract

In this study, fatigue tests and life assessment method for welded structures are proposed. Specimens were sampled from welded structures containing embedded flaws inspected by ultrasonic testing. The loading conditions of the fatigue tests were set to be identified as the operating conditions of the structures considering the crack closure effect due to welding residual stress distribution measured by strain gauges. The assessment results represent good agreement with the experimental results within the factor of 2 scatter bands. Hence the fatigue life of the welded structures can be estimated within ±50 % accuracy in life.