The effect of welding on the fatigue crack growth rate in a structural steel
Abstract
Fracture mechanics principles
have been used to study the effects
of welding on the rate of fatigue crack
growth (FCG) in a low-carbon structural
steel. The steel concerned is used widely
in the fabrication of the structural framework
of passenger buses. Tests were carried
out on the base metal (BM), heat affected
zone (HAZ) and weld metal (WM).
Both the near threshold and midrange
regimes of crack growth were studied.
In the midrange regime, the FCG rate
was highest in the HAZ and lowest in
the WM. Near the threshold, the FCG
rate was highest in the BM and lowest
in the WM. The results are explained in
terms of microstructural changes due to
welding, welding residual stresses, and
fracture mechanisms. Recommendations
to reduce the incidence of fatigue cracking
have been made.
URI
http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/36520https://app.aws.org/wj/supplement/WJ_1993_07_s307.pdf