Weld Toe SCF and Stress Distribution Parametric Equations for Tension (Membrane) Loading

The results of linear elastic finite element analyses of stress concentration factor (SCF) and through-thickness stress distribution for 80 weld toe T-butt plate geometries are presented in parametric form for tension (membrane) loading. The closed-form solutions, which describe the stress state of the two-dimensional plane stress models studied in terms of weldment angle, weld toe radius, weld attachment width and plate thickness, are accurate and wide ranging. The SCF is presented in full parametric form and also as a simple reduced expression, quantifying the degree of error from raw data in each case. An expression for the stress distribution through the potential Mode I crack plane of the uncracked geometries is also presented in full parametric form. It is anticipated that these HBC equations will be particularly useful in the calculation of weight functions for stress intensity factors (SIFs) of fatigue cracks emanating from weld toes in T-butt welded joints, especially in the presence of known residual stresses, or those resulting from peening.© 2014, Author(s)