Abstract
Many welded components such as steel structures are subjected to repetitive cyclic stresses/strains over their lifetime, causing cumulative, localized damage at critical locations even with very low stress/strain levels well below the static strength of the structure or local structural area. This cyclic damage may lead to crack initiation and propagation. The phenomenon is called fatigue. In a smooth, flawless metal, the crack initiation phase is longer than the propagation phase (up to 90% of the total life), but in welded structures, crack propagation may occur already within the first load cycles. The crack propagation life of the welded structure is approximately 75%–90% of the total lifetime.
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