Abstract
In this paper, the effects of weld geometry on the stress intensity factor solutions for laser welds in lap-shear specimens are investigated. Analytical stress intensity factor solutions for laser welded lap-shear specimens based on the beam bending theory are derived and compared with the analytical solutions for two semi-infinite solids with connection. Finite element analyses of laser welded lap-shear specimens with different weld widths were also conducted to obtain the stress intensity factor solutions. Approximate closed-form stress intensity factor solutions based on the results of the finite element analyses in combination with the analytical solutions based on the beam bending theory and Westergaard stress function for a full range of the normalized weld widths are developed for use with the stress intensity factor solutions for kinked cracks to correlate and estimate fatigue lives of laser welded lap-shear specimens. The effects of the weld protrusion on the stress intensity factor solutions for the pre-existing cracks in lap-shear specimens are also investigated. The presence of the weld protrusion decreases the stress intensity factor solutions for the pre-existing crack near the weld protrusion for the load carrying sheets and the lower stress intensity factor solutions can be used to explain more favorable conditions for kinked fatigue crack propagation from the other pre-existing crack tip and to estimate fatigue lives of laser welded lap-shear specimens under high cycle loading conditions as observed in experiments.
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