SINTAP defect assessment procedure for strength mis-matched structures

Abstract This paper describes the defect assessment method for strength mismatched welded structures, resulting from the Brite Euram structural integrity assessment procedures for European industry (SINTAP) project. Finite element and experimental validation of the proposed method is provided. This shows that the proposed method is conservative, and that the degree of conservatism is similar to that embedded in the methods for homogeneous structures. It provides confidence in the use of the proposed SINTAP method for assessing defective weld strength mismatched structures.