Fatigue performance of rib-to-deck joints in orthotropic steel deck with PWHT

Abstract

Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) displays potential for enhancing the fatigue strength of rib-to-deck (RD) welded joints in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) by mitigating welding residual stress. In this study, residual stress measurements, fatigue tests, and fracture analyses were performed to investigate the influence of PWHT on the welding residual stress and fatigue strength of RD joints. Eighteen full-scale specimens were fabricated, i.e. ten PWHT-processed specimens and eight as-welded specimens without additional treatment. Hole drill (HD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to measure the residual stress in four PWHT specimens and four as-welded specimens. The PWHT specimen showed a reduction in the peak residual stress by 76% and 78% in the HD and XRD results, respectively. Fatigue tests were carried out on the six PWHT specimens and four as-welded specimens. The comparison was made between the two specimen types using the mean value of equivalent fatigue strength derived at 2 million cycles. The results indicated that PWHT improved the mean equivalent fatigue strength of RD joints by 23% and 33% under nominal stress and hot-spot stress, respectively. Parametric investigations were carried out using finite element-based fracture analysis to elucidate the influence of residual stress mitigation on fatigue crack growth in RD joints. The result indicated a significant decrease in the crack growth rate owing to residual stress mitigation. Such a decrease enhances the fatigue strength of RD joints.