Fatigue Life Prediction of Welded Girders with Flange Thickness Transitions and Cope Hole

Abstract

AbstractThe paper presents an analytical and numerical approach for the fatigue life prediction using local concepts. A Two‐Stage‐Model is applied to a welded girder with thickness transition and cope hole to determine its fatigue life. The model follows the distinction between crack initiation and crack propagation according to the phenomenological background. Using the Strain‐Life‐Approach and the Crack Propagation Approach the local geometry and likely failure position influence the determined fatigue life for the initiation and propagation phase individually. The results are presented in terms of S‐N curves for initiation, propagation, and total fatigue life.