INFLUENCE OF FLUX CORED ARC WELDED CRUCIFORM JOINT DIMENSIONS ON FATIGUE LIFE OF ASTM-517-F GRADE STEELS

A mathematical model has been developed to predict the fatigue life of flux-cored are-welded (FCAW) cruciform joints containing lack of pene tration (LOP) defects. High strength, quenched and tempered steel (AST M 517 'F' grade) has been used as the base material throughout the inv estigation. The design of experiments (DoE) concept has been used to o ptimize the required number of experiments. Fatigue experiments have b een conducted in a mechanical resonance pulsator, under constant ampli tude loading. The model has been developed by use of the Response Surf ace Method (RSM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques have been ap plied to find the significant factors. The adequacy of the developed m odel has been checked by calculating the correlation coefficient. By u sing the developed model, the fatigue life of FCAW cruciform joints co ntaining LOP defects can be predicted at a 95% confidence level. The i nfluence of cruciform joint dimensions on fatigue life have been discu ssed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.