A Novel Methodology for Welding Joint in Complex Structures: 2-Piece Coplanar Cruci-Trap Welded Joint

Abstract

Due to continuously varying loads, Cruciform welded joints suffer fatigue. Limitations of the conventional 3-piece cruciform fillet welded joint (CFWJ), used to construct all present, metallic complex structures, are uprooted here. A broad literature survey and physical examination of many welded structures are carried out to find a research gap from the exploration available on CFWJ. How the use of this CFWJ is questionable for suitability and prone to structural failure is shown. To overcome the limitations of CFWJ, a novel 2-piece coplanar Cruci-Trap Welded Joint (CTWJ) is developed especially for complex welded structures subjected to a fluctuating loading. A novel groove shape is formed in base metal. CTWJ increases the overall load-carrying capacity of the structure in all nature. This paper also points to the possibility of fatigue failure of cruciform welded joints and the various methods for fatigue life assessment of welded structures. As a result, the proposed novel CTWJ promotes 28.5% more ultimate tensile strength and 25.5% more elongation than the conventional CFWJ method.