Prediction of the fatigue life of slender web plates using fracture mechanics concepts

The results of a series of fatigue tests, on slender plate girders subjected to repeated shear loading, are summarised and used to establish a lower bound fatigue strength curve for the welded web boundary, based on geometric or principal surface stress ranges. The propagation of a semi-elliptical surface crack, through the thickness of a plate, is studied using fracture mechanics concepts. An extensive parametric study indicates that the initial crack size and aspect ratio, the geometric stress concentration at the weld toe, and the plate thickness, all have a significant influence on fatigue strength. It is concluded that the fracture mechanics approach requires specification of a number of parameters which are difficult to determine in practice. However, having specified a realistic crack size and aspect ratio and an approximate stress concentration at the weld toe, the solution can be calibrated against available experimental fatigue strength curves.