Abstract
Fatigue strength of offshore structures or ship structures is significantly decreased due to corrosive environment condition such as sea water and/or coal, crude oil of cargoes, compared to that of on shore structures. In corrosive environment, fatigue strength of structures also depends on characteristics of weld material heat affected zone(HAZ). In this research work, rotary bending fatigue tests of parent material and HAZ of TMCP steel were performed in order to investigate the initiation and propagation of cracks both in air and in NaCl solution. Comparison of fatigue strength In relation with the salinity of NaCl were carried out as well. According to the test results weld material or HAZ of TMCP steel showed higher fatigue strength than that of the parent material. The fatigue strength of TMCP steel decreases drastically in NaCl solution compared to that of in air environment. In particular, more reduced fatigue strength is observed in 1% NaCl solution than in 3% NaCl solution.
