Abstract
In real structures, multi-spot welded joints are more frequently used than a single-spot welded joint. Most researches, however, have been focused to a single-spot welded joint until now. In this paper, the fatigue behavior of multi-spot welded joints are investigated using the finite element solutions of the multi-spot welded specimens. The local strain approach is used rather than the stress intensity factor approach to estimate the fatigue life since the former is quite simple and straightforward. It is found that the fatigue behavior of multi-spot welded joints is different from that of single-spot welded joints. The local strain approach is still applicable to multi-spot welded joints.