Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
This research investigated the plate thickness and weld profile effects upon fatigue of structural steel in sea water. Specific attention was focused on the initiation and propagation behavior of fatigue cracks formed at the toe of different profiled welds and varied plate thicknesses. It was shown that the initiation life was reduced as the thickness increased. The improved weld profile increased the crack initiation life. Analysis of the fatigue data indicated that the Initiation Life to Failure Life Ratio Ni/Nf appeared to be greater for the improved weld profile than for the AWS Basic weld profile. The improved weld profile prolonged the propagation life Np. The thickness factor influenced the propagation life Np for the improved weld profile, but the trend was uncertain for the basic weld profile.
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