Local approaches to fatigue assessment are used to predict the structural durability of welded joints, to optimise their design and to evaluate unforeseen joint failures. This standard work provides a systematic survey of the principles and practical applications of the various methods. It covers the hot spot structural stress approach to fatigue in general, the notch stress and notch strain approach to crack initiation and the fracture mechanics approach to crack propagation. Seam-welded and spot-welded joints in structural steels and aluminium alloys are also considered.
This completely reworked second edition takes into account the tremendous progress in understanding and applying local approaches which has been achieved in the last decade. It is a standard reference for designers, structural analysts and testing engineers who are responsible for the fatigue-resistant in-service behaviour of welded structures.
Completely reworked second edition of a standard work providing a systematic survey of the principles and practical applications of the various methodsCovers the hot spot structural stress approach to fatigue in general, the notch stress and notch strain approach to crack initiation and the fracture mechanics approach to crack propagation.Written by a distinguished team of authors

In five chapters, this volume presents recent developments in fatigue assessment. In the first chapter, a generalized Neuber concept of fictitious notch rounding is presented where the microstructural support factors depend on the notch opening angle besides the loading mode. The second chapter specifies the notch stress factor including the strain energy density and J-integral concept while the SED approach is applied to common fillet welded joints and to thin-sheet lap welded joints in the third chapter. The forth chapter analyses elastic-plastic deformations in the near crack tip zone and discusses driving force parameters. The last chapter discusses thermomechanical fatigue, stress, and strain ranges.

Almost all welding technology depends upon the use of concentrated energy sources to fuse or soften the material locally at the joint, before such energy can be diffused or dispersed elsewhere. Although comprehensive treatments of transient heat flow as a controlling influence have been developed progressively and published over the past forty years, the task of uniting the results compactly within a textbook has become increasingly formidable. With the comparative scarcity of such works, welding engineers have been denied the full use of powerful design analysis tools. During the past decade Dr Radaj has prepared to fulfil this need, working from a rich experience as pioneer researcher and teacher, co-operator with Professor Argyris at Stuttgart University in developing the finite element method for stress analysis of aircraft and power plant structures, and more recently as expert consultant on these and automotive structures at Daimler Benz. His book appeared in 1988 in the German language, and this updated English language edition will significantly increase the availability of the work."

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