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Application of photoelasticity to a weld-penetration problem

Photoelastic tests on models of typical weld-penetration defects in butt welds predict that the largest acceptable length of such defects should be around 0.2 times the plate thickness

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Abstract

The need for more information on the “initiation period” in fatigue tests of weld specimens with penetration defects is discussed and the literature which relates the elasticity stress-concentration factor and Irwin's stress-intensity factor is reviewed.

A series of photoelasticity tests on two-dimensional plane-stress models of typical penetration defects is described. In particular a method for casting “ready to use” very narrow defects is explained.

The results are presented in a graph of stress-concentration factor against defect length. This graph has a “knee” at defect length-to-plate thickness ratios around 0.2. Below the “knee”, the stress-concentration factor changes very little with changes in defect length but, for lengths beyond the knee, i.e., ratios larger than 0.2, the stress concentrations increase linearly with defect length. It is concluded that such a critical defect length should have a strong effect on fatigue life of defective welds and that it may constitute a first approach to the specification of an “acceptable” level of penetration defects for production processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics and Engineering Research Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

    C. P. Burger (Associate Professor), L. W. Zachary (Graduate Student) & W. F. Riley (Professor)

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  1. C. P. Burger
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  2. L. W. Zachary
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  3. W. F. Riley
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Burger, C.P., Zachary, L.W. & Riley, W.F. Application of photoelasticity to a weld-penetration problem. Experimental Mechanics 15, 73–80 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02319740

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02319740

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