Fatigue Life Prediction of Welded Joints in Metallic Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Fatigue life prediction of welded joints in metallic materials is a very important topic since it covers the most frequent failure case and the most critical component of welded structures. There are a number of methods for predicting the fatigue life of metallic welded joints, starting from experimental testing in the laboratory, then using simple engineering formulas based on Paris’ law, and finally applying modern techniques of numerical simulation, such as the extended finite element method. Experimental methods are based on ASTM e647-15e1, the "standard test method for measurement of fatigue crack growth rates", with the aim of establishing the whole da/dN vs. ΔK curve and determining coefficients C and m for all different zones in a welded joint (base metal, weld metal, heat-affected-zone). Simple engineering formulas, based on Paris’ law, enable the analytical evaluation of fatigue life, either by direct or numerical integration. Bearing in mind the conservativity of the stress intensity factors evaluated analytically and used in these formulas, it is often necessary to apply numerical methods to calculate fatigue life more precisely, especially if the geometry of a problem is a complex one. An even more important reason to apply numerical methods is the need to simulate fatigue crack growth through different zones of weld joints since they have significantly different crack growth rates, i.e., coefficients C and m, as determined by experimental testing. The differences between different zones in welded joints under fatigue loading are typically much more expressed than under static loading conditions. Therefore, in this Special Issue, the focus is on the experimental, analytical, and numerical prediction of the fatigue life of metallic welded joints, keeping in mind the significant differences in fatigue crack growth rates in the different zones of welded joints.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Aleksandar S. Sedmak
Prof. Dr. Aleksandar M. Grbovic
Guest Editors

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• life prediction
• fatigue of metallic welded joints
• fatigue testing
• microstructure
• finite element analysis
• Paris law
• flaw assessment of welded joints