Simulation of Ti-6Al-4V cruciform welded joints subjected to fatigue load using XFEM

Abstract

The stress distribution of cruciform shape welded joints is analyzed by finite element codes ABAQUS. Welded joints with various weld shapes and sizes are investigated to estimate the fatigue life of different joints. The fatigue behavior is evaluated under constant amplitude loading (R=0.1). The aim of this work is fatigue behavior evaluation of fillet welded cruciform joint for different weld geometry. The weld geometry are considered: concave, convex and flat weld shape of different weld sizes.  The stress intensity factor (SIF) of a TI 6AL4V, is calculated by using Extended finite element method (XFEM) in ABAQUS software. Simulations of fatigue life for different weld shapes at different stresses are analyzed and crack initiations are identified the number of severe fatigue life cycles which are obtained are very close to the theoretical values. In present study the importance of XEFM method is recognized to predict the crack growth rate for convex specimen which is subjected maximum fatigue stress.