Influence of weld geometry and process on fatigue crack growth characteristics of AISI 304L cruciform joints containing lack of penetration defects

Abstract

The influence of weld geometry in conjunction with the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes on fatigue properties of AISI 304L load carrying transverse fillet welded cruciform joints, containing lack of penetration (LOP) defects, has been studied. The fatigue lives of the joints were evaluated using conventional S -N (stress - number of cycles to failure) and fracture mechanics methods. The fatigue lives were calculated according to the two stage approach in which both the fatigue crack initiation and the crack propagation phases were considered. Constant amplitude fatigue experiments with stress ratio R=0 were carried out using a 100 kN servohydraulic Dartec universal testing machine at a frequency of 30 Hz. An automatic crack monitoring system based on crack propagation gauges was used to obtain the crack initiation and propagation data during the fatigue process. The predicted life was compared with the experimental values. It was found that the fatigue lives of the joints fabricated via GTAW were longer than those of the corresponding GMAW joints. It was also observed that the fillet geometry plays a major role in determining the failure mode and life. Test results have been compared with the BS 5400 design curve.