Stress intensity factors for spot welds between plates of dissimilar materials

Abstract

Continuing the authors' contributions on the stress intensity factors of spot welded joints between elastic plates of equal and unequal thickness, the more general case of bielastic material combination is considered. The theory of the oscillatory stress singularity occurring with bielastic interface cracks and slits is applied. An equivalent non-oscillatory singularity is derived on the basis of the traditional theory. The stress intensity factors for the strip model simulating the weld spot edge are determined proceeding from J (and J ∗ ) integral solutions on the one hand and boundary element solutions on the other. The stress intensity factors are presented dependent on elasticity and thickness ratios. The tensile shear specimen and the cross tension specimen combining aluminium and steel plates are analysed as examples of application.