The effect of misalignment on the fatigue strength of welded cruciform joints

TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 354/1987

By R M Andrews

Background

The effect of axial misalignment on the fatigue strength of load-carrying transverse cruciform welds has been investigated. Results from two series of fatigue tests on carbon-manganese (C-Mn) structural steel specimens are presented. Finite element (FE) analysis was used to derive stress intensity factors for toe cracks in misaligned joints.