Inclusion Defects Research Articles

Fatigue-crack propagation behaviour of defective weldments

The effect of weld defects on the fatigue-crack growth response of a GTA weld in a nickel-base alloy was studied at room temperature and 538°C (1000°F). The presence of porosity and inclusion defects was found to have little or no effect on the macroscopic crack growth behaviour of this weldment. On the other hand, electron fractographic examination of the defective weld specimens revealed that these defects did influence the microscopic fatigue behaviour in the immediate vicinity of cavities and inclusions.