The Effect of Strength Mis-Match on Mechanical Performance of Weld Joints

Abstract

This paper presents numerical studies on strength mis-match effects in welded joints. Crack growth in a mis-matched single edge notched specimen under pure bending, with a crack lying at the center line of the weld metal, is simulated via a two-dimensional plane strain finite element analysis (FEA). The fracture process is modeled using a cohesive zone model (CZM). The work is focussed on the effects of yield strength mis-match as well as thickness of the weld metal on fracture resistance and load-deformation for both under- and overmatched specimens. Weld metal mis-match is achieved by keeping the same weld metal and changing the strength of the base metal.