On the validity of using small-scale fatigue data to design full-scale steel welded structures: testing assumptions on residual stress relief

An accurate fatigue life prediction is vital for the effectiveness and safety of a ship structure. The fatigue limit state is typically governing and con servatism is included to provide for a safe design. On the other side, minimizing conservatism is favourable, for reasons of cost, stability and payload (i.e. weight). The fatigue life...

Estimation of the Structural Reliability for Fatigue of Welded Bridge Details Using Advanced Resistance Models

This present paper concerns the application of probabilistic fatigue life prediction models based on S–N curves aiming at the estimation of the safety level for a nonload carrying cruciform joint. The safety level is expressed in terms of the reliability index as a function of the number of applied cycles. Estimating the reliability of a...

Comparison between the Eurocode for fatigue of steel structures, en 1993-1-9, and the Eurocode for fatigue of aluminium structures, en 1999-1-3

The fatigue behaviour of aluminium shows not only many similarities, but also some differences with the fatigue behaviour of steel. There exist separate Eurocodes for the fatigue design of steel and of aluminium structures, EN1993-1-9 and EN1999-1-3, respectively. The latter standard was developed after the draft version of the first one was...

Control of relaxation cracking in austenitic high temperature components

The degradation mechanism "relaxation cracking" is acting in austenitic components operating between 550°C (1020°F) and 750°C (1380°F). The brittle failures are always located in cold formed areas or in welded joints and are mostly addressed within 1 year service. More than 10 different names can be found in the literature for this phenomenon. A...

Relaxation cracking in austenitic welded joints: An underestimated problem

In both power generation and chemical process industries austenitic materials, including 800H, 321H and 316H, are often used at temperatures between 500 and 700 degrees Celsius. The critical pressure containment components typically contain circumferential and longitudinal welded joints of varying thickness, resulting in high residual stresses...

Prediction of the fatigue behaviour of welded steel and aluminium structure with the fracture mechanics approach

The paper deals with the fracture mechanics approach to the fatigue life and crack growth of welded connections in steel and aluminium structures. This approach can be used as a design as well as a maintenance tool. The following aspects of fatigue calculations are highlighted: modelling of the geometry and stresses, crack schematisation and a...