Influence of weld size on fatigue life prediction for flux cored arc welded cruciform joints containing lack of penetration defects

Fracture mechanics equations have been developed to predict the fatigue lif e of flux cored arc welded cruciform joints between pressure vessel grade s teels, containing lack of penetration defects. These equations have been de veloped by combining the Paris law and Delta K-i (initial stress intensity factor range) endurance equations. The initiation life and the propagation life of the joints were accounted for to obtain the total fatigue life. The initiation life was obtained experimentally, and the propagation life was evaluated wing the numerically developed equations. The accuracy of the dev eloped equations was tested by comparing the predicted data with the experi mental data and the correlation was found to be fairly close. Further, the influence of weld size on fatigue life has been analysed in detail. (C) 200 0 IoM Communications Ltd.