Abstract
A study of the constant amplitude and variable amplitude (VA) fatigue performance of 6261-T6 aluminium I-beams with a welded rectangular cover plate is reported. The test programme involved > 100 specimens and considered the effects of weld 'quality' (in terms of weld toe angle, leg length and heat input), and thermal and vibratory stress relief on stress-life curves under simple repeated two-level block loading. The number of high-to-low amplitude cycles in a single VA block was varied from 1/20, through 10/20 to 1/1000 and 1/50,000. Load amplitude increase percentages of 25%, 75% and 150% were considered. Observed fatigue lives were compared with the predictions of Miners rule and explanations are proposed for situations where Miners rule is non-conservative. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 125-133 |
Number of pages | 0 |
Journal | INT J FATIGUE |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 1997 |
Keywords
- variable amplitude fatigue
- welded cover plates
- vibratory stress relief
- linear damage life assessment
- aluminium I-beams