Fatigue strength improvement of box welded joints by using low transformation temperature welding material

Abstract

The fatigue strength of developed box welds was improved about two times of the conventional box welds. The improved welds used the low transformation temperature welding material which contains 10% Cr and 10% Ni. The expansion of the developed welding material was 0.55% due to the transformation from austenite to martensite. This expansion induced the compressive residual stress around welds. On low stress range condition, the stress ratio effect by this compressive residual stress avoids the fatigue crack initiation at the weld toe. On high stress range condition, the fatigue crack initiated from weld toe and the fretting was observed on the fractured surface. While in the conventional welds, no trace of fretting was observed.