Status Review on Fatigue Performance of Fillet Welds

Abstract

This paper presents a critical review of current design methods, including their background and relevant experimental data, for assessing the fatigue performance of steel fillet welds with respect to failure in the weld throat. The main focus is on fillet or partial penetration welds in cruciform, T, or lap joints under transverse loading failing by fatigue crack growth across the weld throat under normal stresses. The review covers the influence of residual stress, applied mean stress, joint fit-up and alignment, weld quality, the use of coated steel, the need for a plate thickness correction, and calculation of the optimum weld size. Also considered are cases of fillet welds failing in shear or combined normal and shear stresses.