FATIGUE LIFE AND CORROSION FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION OF WELDED JOINTS OF STRUCTURAL STEEL CONTAINING PLANAR DEFECTS.

Abstract

Planar defects in the butt welded joints of a high tensile steel were measured by ultrasonic testing with a point focused angle probe. The fatigue lives are predicted based on linear fracture mechanics using fatigue crack growth data in air and seawater. Accurate prediction of fatigue life and corrosion fatigue life is possible provided the defect shape is detected by nondestructive testing with the accuracy equivalent to this work. The significance of measured defect size is also discussed.