Abstract
Using results obtained in work on fatigue crack propagation in unwelded sheet specimens, an analysis has been made of fatigue test results for specimens with longitudinal non-load-carrying fillet welds tested in the as-welded and stress relieved conditions and also after treatment by local compression and by spot heating. It is shown that, by this means, it is possible to provide a quantitative explanation of the effect of residual stresses and applied stress ratio on fatigue strength, since all the results can be normalized on the basis of an effective stress range. In the course of the work it has been shown that the gross stress concentration factor for this type of joint is approximately 2·57. It has also again been demonstrated that the beneficial effect of spot heating on fatigue strength is a direct result of induced compressive residual stresses.
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