Fatigue durability of cut-out in corner plate and fatigue life extension by ICR treatment

Abstract

Corner plates are often welded at the intersection between web and flange in steel box girders. As a measure against fatigue in the weld joint between corner plate and lateral rib, the end of corner plate was cut-out in U-shape. Nevertheless, fatigue cracks have been generated from exposed root on the cut-out surface. In this study, fatigue strength and fatigue life improvement by ICR treatment were investigated. The fatigue strength of the weld joint was JSSC-G class. Application of ICR treatment improves the fatigue strength by 1 grade or more, and the fatigue limit was improved as 59 N/mm² or more. Furthermore, stress concentration factor around exposed root was investigated by finite element analysis.