Abstract
The fatigue limit prediction of butt welded joints with incomplete penetration was investigated by paying attention to the case when the loading direction caused the closure of incomplete penetration. The experimental results indicated the depth of incomplete penetration affected not only the fatigue crack initiation life but also the location of fatigue crack initiation, and there was a trend toward lower fatigue crack initiation life with increasing the depth of incomplete penetration.
From an engineering point of view, the fatigue crack initiation limit on the opposite side of incomplete penetration can be estimated by a local strain approach. The fatigue crack initiation limit at the tip of incomplete penetration can be estimated conveniently by the linear fracture mechanics analysis based on the experimental assumption of contact between the face of incomplete penetration.
