Influence of the joint geometry on the stress intensity factor of the fillet welded cruciform joint subjected to tension and bending

In this paper is analyzed the cruciform welded joint subjected to axial tension and bending in order to determine the influence of the joint geometry on the fracture mechanics parameters. The stress intensity factors are calculated analytically, with help of the programming package Mathematica (R), based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics concept. Existence of the weld and loading was taken into account through the corresponding correction factors. Results obtained in this work show that increase of the weld size for the isosceles right-angled triangle leads to decrease of the stress intensity factor, while the stress intensity factor is increasing with weld's width w increase. Ratio of thicknesses B/T of the two plates that are welded to each other does not impose significant influence on the stress intensity factor. The working life and the fatigue crack growth curve of the two welds were analyzed as well. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.