Study on the impact of lack of fusion in the fillet weld on its fatigue strength under various load combinations

Abstract

The article refers to the issue of incomplete penetration in T-joints allowed by the obligatory Eurocode EN 1993-1-8. Based on it, the joint’s model was made, and then they were FEM simulated in various load combinations. As a result of this simulation, a Whöller's welded joints diagram was obtained. In the experimental part a T-joint was made. A static tensile test was carried out on it, which showed the areas of stress concentration and plasticization anticipated earlier during the simulation. The study concluded that the lack of mutual penetration of fillet welds generates a significant fatigue score.

Keywords

• FEM simulations
• fillet weld
• cyclic loading
• welded joints