• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2000

The aim of the present study is to investigate the characteristics of ultimate the fatigue strength of hopper knuckles in merchant vessels carrying bulk cargo or LNG/LPG/ The ultimate strength test is undertaken on the hopper knuckle model, subject to end tip load. A series of fatigue tests are carried out on the hopper knuckle models varying the level of the nominal stresses. The elasto-plastic finite element analysis is performed to examine the distribution of hot spot stresses near weld toe and also the progressive collapse behavior of the test model. S-N curves are developed based on the fatigue test results.