Structural Stress Definition Research Articles

A fracture mechanics-based stress approach for fatigue life prediction of welded joints considering weld profile effect

This paper presents a new method, based on fracture mechanics analysis of fatigue, to calculate the generalized stress proposed by Maddox. The generalized stress is computed from the currently existing structural stress definition and the stress intensity factor (SIF) calculation. With the structural stress term accounting for the effect of global weldment geometry, the stress intensity factor captures the local effect of the weld profile, characterized by the weld angle and weld toe radius. Weight function methods are used for the purpose of obtaining the generalized stress. Finally, the generalized stress is validated with fatigue test results of various specimen types and thickness combinations (up to 4.9 mm). It is found that the generalized stress is able to effectively predict the fatigue life of welded joints and can serve as a better fatigue damage parameter than the structural stress since the weld profile effect has been included.

Traction structural stress analysis of fatigue behaviors of rib-to-deck joints in orthotropic bridge deck

In this study, a traction stress method is adopted for analyzing some of the unique fatigue behaviors observed in a series of recent experimental studies on rib-to-deck joints in orthotropic steel bridge decks. It is found that the traction-based structural stress definition is not only effective for describing the relevant stress state responsible for each of the four fatigue failure modes, but also mesh-insensitive in finite element computation. The latter attribute is essential for achieving a reliable evaluation of the most likely failure mode possible out of four typical failure modes for a given joint design (including exact weld dimensions) under specified loading conditions. As such, effective means of avoiding undesirable failure mode, e.g., Type 4 (i.e., weld root cracking), can be examined, e.g., by increasing either weld fillet size and/or weld penetration. Furthermore, the rib-to-deck joint fatigue test data investigated in this study are shown falling within the scatter band of the traction stress based master S-N curve adopted by ASME Div Code since 2007, implying that data transferability exists among these three sets of test data obtained independently by different laboratories.

A structural strain method for low-cycle fatigue evaluation of welded components

In this paper, a new structural strain method is presented to extend the early structural stress based master S–N curve method to low cycle fatigue regime in which plastic deformation can be significant while an elastic core is still present. The method is formulated by taking advantage of elastically calculated mesh-insensitive structural stresses based on nodal forces available from finite element solutions. The structural strain definition is consistent with classical plate and shell theory in which a linear through-thickness deformation field is assumed a priori in both elastic or elastic–plastic regimes. With considerations of both yield and equilibrium conditions, the resulting structural strains are analytically solved if assuming elastic and perfectly plastic material behavior. The formulation can be readily extended to strain-hardening materials for which structural strains can be numerically calculated with ease. The method is shown effective in correlating low-cycle fatigue test data of various sources documented in the literature into a single narrow scatter band which is remarkable consistent with the scatter band of the existing master S–N curve adopted ASME B&PV Code since 2007.With this new method, some of the inconsistencies of the pseudo-elastic structural stress procedure in 2007 ASME Div 2 Code can now be eliminated, such as its use of Neuber's rule in approximating structural strain beyond yield. More importantly, both low cycle and high cycle fatigue behaviors can now be treated in a unified manner. The earlier mesh-insensitive structural stress based master S–N curve method can now be viewed as an application of the structural strain method in high cycle regime, in which structural strains are linearly related to traction-based structural stresses according to Hooke's law. In low-cycle regime, the structural strain method characterizes fatigue damage directly in terms of structural strains that satisfy linear through-thickness deformation gradient assumption, material nonlinear behavior, and equilibrium conditions. The use of a pseudo-elastic structural stress definition is not fundamental, but merely a means to put low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue test data in a conventional stress-based S–N data representation which is typically preferred in engineering practice, than a strain-based representation.

A comparative study for the fatigue assessment of a ship structure by use of hot spot stress and structural stress approaches

Recently, a mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition (Battelle structural stress method) has been proposed. This method gives a stress state at a weld toe with a relatively coarse mesh, such as up to 2 t ( t=plate thickness) or irregular mesh shapes. The structural stress definition is based on the elementary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state in front of a weld toe. In this present study, a fatigue strength assessment was carried out for a side shell connection of a container vessel using both the hot spot stress and the structural stress methods. A consistent approach to computing extrapolated hot spot stress for design purposes based on converged hot spot stresses is described and current fatigue guidance is evaluated. Fatigue strength predicted by the two methods, i.e. hot spot stress and structural stress approaches, at hot spot locations of a typical ship structure are compared and discussed.

Fatigue design of welded joints using the finite element method and the 2007 ASME Div. 2 Master curve

Fatigue design of welded structures is primarily based on a nominal stress; hot spot stress methods or local approaches each having several limitations when coupled with finite element modeling. An alternative recent structural stress definition is discussed and implemented in a post-processor. It provides an effective means for the direct coupling of finite element results to the fatigue assessment of welded joints in complex structures. The applications presented in this work confirm the main features of the method: mesh-insensitivity, accurate crack location and life to failure predictions.

An experimental study on the fatigue strength assessment of longi-web connections in ship structures using structural stress

In this study, a series of fatigue tests are carried out to investigate the fatigue strength of longi-web connection weld details, which are considered to be typical fatigue prone spots in ship-like structures. Estimation of the fatigue life on the test specimens is also performed using the structural stress approach based on finite element method. The structural stress definition is based on the elementary structural mechanics theory and provides a stress state at weld toe with relatively larger mesh size compared to that of conventional approaches. Based on the experimental and analytical results, it is expected to develop a more precise fatigue strength evaluation technique and to reduce time and cost associated with the fatigue design of ship and offshore structures.

Testing and analysis of fatigue behaviour in edge details: A comparative study using hot spot and structural stresses

At present, the fatigue design of welded structures is primarily based on a nominal stress or hot spot stress (HSS) approach with a series of classified weld S-N curves. Although well accepted by major industries, the nominal stress-based fatigue design approach is relatively cumbersome in terms of securing a series of S-N curves corresponding to each class of joint types and loading modes. Moreover, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine the nominal stress at each structural component, particularly in complex ship structures. The HSS-based fatigue design is based on the stress at the weld toes obtained by linear or quadratic extrapolation of stresses over two or three points in front of the weld toe. Finite-element analysis is mostly applied. However, this method has a difficulty of finding a proper stress through the global model, the medium size model and the detail model of ship structure. Besides, the calculated HSS values may vary depending on the extrapolation technique used. Recently, a mesh-size insensitive structural stress (SS) definition that gives a stress state at the weld toe with a relatively large mesh size has been proposed. The SS definition is based on the elementary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state in front of the weld toe. As an experimental validation of the Battelle SS method in obtaining the fatigue strength of weldments, a series of experiments are carried out for various sizes of weldments. Based on the results from this study, it is expected to achieve the development of a more precise fatigue strength evaluation technique and saving on the time required in the fatigue design of ship and offshore structures.

구조응력 및 핫스팟 응력을 이용한 8,100 TEU 컨테이너선 선측 종늑골구조의 피로 강도 평가에 대한 비교 연구

Recently, a mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition (structural stress method) is proposed that gives a stress state at weld toe with a relatively large mesh size. The structural stress definition is based on the elementary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state in front of weld toe. In this study, a fatigue strength assessment for a side shell connection of a container vessel using both the hot spot stress and the Battelle structural stress method was carried out. A consistent approach to compute the extrapolated hot spot stress for design purpose is described and current fatigue guidance is evaluated. Fatigue strength predicted by the two methodologies, e.g. hot spot stress and structural stress approaches, at hot spot locations of a typical ship structure are compared and discussed.

선체 Longi-web 연결부의 피로강도 평가를 위한 구조응력 기법의 적용

AbstractRecently, a mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition that provides a stress state at weld toe with relatively larger mesh size compared to conven tional approaches has been proposed. The structural stress definition is based on the elem entary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state in front of weld toe. In this study, as an experimental validation of structural st ress method in obtaining the fatigue strength of weldments, a series of fatigue test has carried out for longi-web connections, which are representative of ship-like structures. Based on the result from this study, it is expected to develop a more precise fatigue strength evaluation technique and to reduce time and cost associated with the fatigue design of ship and offshore structures. ※Keywords: Fatigue strength assessment(피로강도평가), Structural stress(구조응력), Weld toe (용접 토우부), Longi-web connection(종횡부재 연결부) 접수일:2007년 7월 11일, 승인일 2007년 12월 23일✝교신저자: swkang@pusan.ac.kr, 051-510-2345

수치해석을 통한 용접구조물의 구조응력 추정에 관한 연구

A numerical procedure is proposed as a mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition that gives a stress state at a weld toe with relatively large mesh size. The structural stress values obtained using different finite element types, i.e. shell element and solid element, are examined for typical weld structures. The calculation procedures are performed using the balanced nodal forces and moments obtained from finite element solutions. A consistent formulation based on work equivalent argument has been implemented to transform the balanced nodal forces and moments from shell to line force and line moments at each nodal position. The mesh-insensitivity, the effect of distance <TEX>$\delta$</TEX>(where the stress is calculated) and the potential limitations of the structural stress method are examined for various types of weldments. Based on the results from this study, it is expected to develop a more precise stress estimation technique for fatigue strength assessment of welded structures.

구조응력 및 핫스팟응력을 이용한 피로수명 평가에 관한 실험적 연구

At present, fatigue design of welded structures is primarily based on a nominal stress or hot spot stress approach with a series of classified weld S-N curves. Although well accepted by major industries, the nominal stress based fatigue design approach is cumbersome in terms of securing a series of S-N curves corresponding to each class of joint types and loading modes. The hot spot stress based fatigue design has a difficulty of finding a proper stress through the global model, the midium size model, and the detail model of ship structure. Also, it is difficult to link proper displacements within three different mesh size models. Recently, the structural stress is proposed as a mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition that gives a stress state at weld toe with relatively large mesh size. However, this method requires an experimental validation in obtaining the fatigue strength of weldments. Therefore, in this study, a series of experiment is performed for various sizes of weldments.

A structural stress definition and numerical implementation for fatigue analysis of welded joints

A mesh-size insensitive structural stress definition is presented in this paper. The structural stress definition is consistent with elementary structural mechanics theory and provides an effective measure of a stress state that pertains to fatigue behavior of welded joints in the form of both membrane and bending components. Numerical procedures for both solid models and shell or plate element models are presented to demonstrate the mesh-size insensitivity in extracting the structural stress parameter. Conventional finite element models can be directly used with the structural stress calculation as a post-processing procedure. To further illustrate the effectiveness of the present structural stress procedures, a collection of existing weld S-N data for various joint types were processed using the current structural stress procedures. The results strongly suggests that weld classification based S-N curves can be significantly reduced into possibly a single master S-N curve, in which the slope of the S-N curve is determined by the relative composition of the membrane and bending components of the structural stress parameter. The effects of membrane and bending on S-N behaviors can be addressed by introducing an equivalent stress intensity factor based parameter using the structural stress components. Among other things, the two major implications are: (a) structural stresses pertaining to weld fatigue behavior can be consistently calculated in a mesh-insensitive manner regardless of types of finite element models; (b) transferability of weld S-N test data, regardless of welded joint types and loading modes, can be established using the structural stress based parameters.