A Study on the Corner Crack Propagation by Plane Bending Fatigue in Butt Welded Joints of Steel

平面굽힘 疲勞荷重 에 의한 鋼熔接部 의 모서리균열 傳파特性

The behavior of corner crack propagation by unidirectional plane bending fatigue was investigated in the butt welded joints of SS41 and SM50 steel plates including an edge through-thickness notch. The properties of fatigue crack propagation were inspected in the weld metal, heat-affected zone, and base metal of the welded joints. Main results obtained are as follows; (1) When a plate with an edge through-thickness notch is loaded by plane bending fatigue in indirection, the 2 variant corner cracks on the upper and lower edge of the plate are initiated and propagated respectively from the notch. (2) In case of a specimen containing a corner crack, it is more reasonable to estimate the crack propagation rate by area of fracture surface than by crack surface length. (3) The rate of fatigue crack propagation becomes faster in the following order; weld metal, heat-affected zone, and base metal. (4) The specimen including reinforcement shape is rapidly failed throughout bond due to effect of its shape when the repeated load exceeds a certain cycle.