aTC 5352

The Calculation of Fatigue Crack Growth in Welded Tubular

Joints Using Fracture Mechanics
by D.R.V. van Delft, Delft U. of Technology, and 0.0. Dijkstra and H.H. Snijder, TNO-IBBe

Copyright 1986 Offshore TechnQlogy Conference

This paper was presented at the 18th Annual OTC in Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1986. The material is sUbject to correction by the author. Permission
to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more 1!.1arL~Q.o_.w~as. ~. ,,'. - - ... _. '-C - • :. _.~~_ . _._--=-:._..

ABSTRACT In this relation the crack propagation rate,

_._, ,-='--==-::::.::.
A model for calculati~g the fatigue crack
growth in welded tubular joints, based on fracture
mechanics,is established. Various aspects of fatigue
crack growth calculations, which can be found in
literature, are incorporated in this 'calculation
model. The sizeoL_a J;atigue crack can be calculated
by this method for any time in the fatigue life.
The crack growth calculation model is verified by
comparing the results with the actual fatigue crack
growth in a large scale welded tubular joint
specimen. The crack growth data of. this specimen
were obtained from crack ~ar~ introduced. during
testing. The fatJgue results of other specimens are
also compared with calculated results.
INTRODUCTION
expressed by the amount of crack extension per load
cycle, is related to the stress intensity factor
range (L\K) with C and m being material constants.
This stress intensity factor range is the difference
between the maximum and minimum stress intensity
factor (K) during the load cycle. The stress
intensity factor describes the stress field near the
tip of the crack.
In a tubular joint where the crack initiates at
the weld toe (figure 1), the value of K 1s rather
difficult to calculate due to the complex geometry
and stress situation. Therefore, the crack .growth
calculation method is established for a simplified
geometry and verified with crack growth data of
actual fatigue tests on large scale welded tubular
specimens.

Fatigue test results can be presented as S-N To calculate the stress intensity factors the
lines (Wohler-lines). For designing against fatigue formulae for a semi-elliptical crack in an infinite
failure these S-N lines can be used. plate are basically used. The influence of the weld
This presentation and analysis is completely based geometry is taken into account using a magnification
on experiments and gives only information' about 'the factor. For the crack propagation of the semi-
fatigue life for the specific detail and material. elliptical crack, Paris' law (equation 1) is applied
in two directions with a possible reduction factor
By using fracture mechani~s the fatigue crack for the surface crack growth. The fact that smaller
growth in an arbitrary structural. detail can be cracks grow faster is simulated by an additional
calculated. Furthermore the remaining fatigue life crack length.
of a cracked structure can be calculated.
The fatigue crack propagation rate"
o'f the material
can be derived by standard fatigue tests. CRACK' GROWrHASPECTS . AND cALcuLATION PROCEDURE
This means that basically fracture mechanics is a
more powerful tool to handle fatigue problems. In this section the different aspects of the
crack growth calculation for the simplified geometry
The fatigue crack growth can be calculated are discussed. The calculation procedure is .treated
using relations giving the fatigue crack propagation at the end of this section.
rate as a function of the stress intensity" factor
range. A variety of these relations are" given in
literature. The relation given by Paris is the most
elementary one and can in most cases be applied The crack growth calculation model is developed
sa tisfactorily. for a semi-elliptical crack at the weld toe of a
continuous plate to which an attachment is welded
da m
dN = c( L\K) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (1) (figure 2). The continuous plate can be seen as the
chord wall of a tubular joint and the attachment as
the brace wall.
References and illustrations at end of paper.

573
2 THE CALCULATION OF FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN WELDED
TUBULAR JOINTS USING FRACTURE MECHANICS
The fatigue loading on the continuous plate
causes the semi-elliptical crack to propagate. The
attachment is not loaded, so the welds are non load
carrying.
This seems to be contradictory to the situa~ion in a
tubular joint where the stresses are introduced by
the loading in the brace also. However, finite
element calculations of the stresses at the vicinity
of the weld toes [1], showed that the stress
situation at the chord weld toe is mainly determined
by the forces in the chord wall and is hardly
affected by the stress situation in the brace wall.
The same applies for the brace weld toe in relation
to the forces in the brace- and chord wall
respectively.
Therefore, the crack growth at a weld toe, which is
for the larger part caused by the stress situation
in the wall of the relevant member of a tubular
joint, is comparable with the situation of the
simplified geometry given in figure 2.
P.?-=_~!~~~_J.>!~R~~.!:~~!~.!:=_
The fatigue crack growth of the semi-elliptical
crack can be described by applying Paris' law
(equation 1) in the two directions of the principle
axes of the elliptical crack:
where:
da
crack depth extension per load cycle
dN
dc
half crack length extension per load
dN
cycle
f),K(11/2) '" stress intensity factor range at
deepest point of crack (6 '" 11/2 ; see
figure 2)
stress intensity factor range of the
crack tip at free surface (6 '" 0 ;
see figure 2).
C material constant
m material constant
reduction factor for crack growJll at
free surface.
The material constants C and m in equation 2a, which
can be obtained from crack propagation tests on
simple specimens, are in principle equal for both
directions. It revealed however -from tests on
specimens with semi-elliptical cracks, that the
crack growth at the surface tends to be slower.
This is probably caused by the larger size of the
plastic zone at the free surface. This slower crack
growth at the free surface is taken into account in
formula 2b by the crack growth reduction factor
Fc • Based on fatigue tests Raju and Newman [2] have
estimated this factor Fc '" 0.9.
574
OTC 5352
Stress intensity factors for a semi-elliptical crack
----------------------------------------------------
In order to calculate the crack extension using
equations 2, the stress intensity factor range for
both directions must be known. The ranges follow
from the stress intensity factors at maximum and
minimum loading during one cycle.
The stress intensity factor solutions for a
semi-elliptical crack in a plate subjected to
tension or bending forces are evaluated by Scott and
Thorpe [3]. For the crack tip at the deepest point
of the crack (6 '" 11/2) and for the crack tip at the
free surface (6 '" 0) they can be expressed as:
(J
m + M-
--b(o)
where:
a '" crack depth.
= the elliptical integral of _the second
kind which can be approximated by:
(J the nominal membrane stress.
m
the nominal bending stress.
correction factor for the membrane
stress.
Mb correction factor for the bending stress.
The correction factors ~ and Mb are functions of
the crack shape (a/c) and the relative crack depth
(alt) •
The best solutions for the factors ~ and ~ accor-
ding to Scott and Thorpe are plotted in figure 3 and
4 respectively for various crack shapes. The values
can be calculated using a set of equations. For the
equations used, the reader is referred to [3].
.!!!-=_~!~=!~=_2!_.!=!?_=_~!~_~=~=.!:!I_
The equations 3 give the stress intensity
factor solutions for a crack in a plate whereas in
the actual situation the crack is situated at the
toe of a weld. The stress raising effect due to the
presence of the weld will also affect the stress
intensity factors. This is taken into account by
multiplying the stress intensity factors from
equation 3 by a magnification factor Mk •
Maddox [4] has published Mk-values for various
weld angles as a function of the relative crack
depth (a/t), for the case of a constant depth
surface crack in an axially loaded welded joint (see
figure 5).
In the actual case of figure 2 we have a semi-
elliptical crack which can be loaded axially or by
bending. This will affect the actual Mk-values.
Furthermore the effect of the weld toe radius on the
Mk-values is not given. Nevertheless, since the
influence of these aspects have not yet been
OTC 5352 ~.R.V. van Delftl O.D. Dij~~tra; H.H. Snijder 3

thoroughly studied, the Mk values from figure 5 have

been applied. ~_!:E!-~~~_~~:~~_~~~~_~~~~:E~~~_f~~~~~~~~_
For the fatigue crack growth calculation
This means that the stress intensity factor at procedure, based on the various aspects discussed
the deepest point of the crack is mult:ipiled by --the above,a simple computer program was written [6].
value of MkC'lI"/2) at the same relative crack depth In this program, the number of cycles (N) and crack
(a/ t) • For t'he stress intensity factor at the free extension in length direction (Ac) is calculated for
surface the Mkf 0) value is used. This is the value a given crack extension in depth direction (Aa).
for a/ t:O which corresponds to the maximum of the This crack extension is a fixed part (f) of the
line for the relevant weld angle. In principle this actual crack depth including the possible EI Haddad
value should be equal to the (local) stress correction.
concentration factor (K t ) for the uncracked Roughly, the following steps can be distinguished in
situation caused by the presence of the weld the calculation procedure:
geometry.
1. Input of the initial crack size (ai' ci ) and
With regard to the weld angle (<f» in figure 3 crack depth increment factor (f).
it is mentioned here that the stress concentration
at the weld toe is for the larger part determined by 2. Calculation of the crack depth increment (Aa)
the local weld angle [1]. From this it follows that according to:
the M values determined with -rigure-3 should be
k
based on the local weld angle (see figure 1). Aa : (a + lo)f • • • • • • • • • • • • •• (7)
i
~~_~.!!~~~~~_~.!_E~~_.P!!E~_.!!-~E~ 3. Calculation of the stress intensity factor ranges
for crack size ai' c r These can be obtained by
The stress intensity fact9rs given by the mul tiplying equation 3 by the magnification
equations 3 are valid for a plate ha~ing an infinite factor (Mk ) for the influence of the weld
width and should be corrected for finite width (w). geometry and including the possible El Haddad
In case of a welded tubular joint the plate- or wall correction (1 0 ) , This leads to:
wid th is undefined. Nevertheless, by the crack
extension in the tube wall, the nett cross-section h(a+l )
decreases which results in a higher stress intensity _ _-::0:.... (8 a)
factor than follows from equations 3. On the other E
k
hand the stresses a and a at the hot-spot
b
(initiation point) willdecreag\~ along the weld toe h(a+l )
away from the hot-spot. Because of the fact that o
(8b)
both effects (finite cross-section and decreasing
stresses) will more or less compensate, a finite
width correction is not incorporated in the model. 4. Calculation of crack extension in length
direction (Ac). Combining equations 2 and taking
Correction for spall cracks differential values leads to:
In case of small cracks at, a notch, _the c~ack
tends to propagate faster than predicted by the • • • • • • • • • • • • • (9)
crack propagation rate relations such as for
instance equation 1. El Haddad [5] obtained good
fatigue crack growth predictions by adding a fictive S. Calculation of number of cycles during the crack
crack length 10 to the actual crack length in the extension (t:,N). Taking the differential values
equation for the stress intensity factor range. This and re-arranging equation 2a leads to:
AK can generally be expressed as:
AN : _-=A::;:a:.-_ _ • • • (10)
&.. : F (4)
g C(&"(1I/2»)m
With the fictive additional cra~k length 10 equation Using this equation, the number of cycles is
4 changes into: calculated from the AK values based on the crack
size ai' c i whereas during crack growth from ai'
&.. : F Aa hI (a + 1 ) • (5) c i to a i + Aa, c i + Ac the stress intensity
g .0_
factor normally increases.
Based on the uncracked situation (a : 0) EI Haddad This means that the number of cycles is
suggested 1 0 to be: overestimated. Therefore in order to obtain a
conservative calculation of the crack growth, it
is preferable to calculate AN with equation 10
(6) where t:,K(1I/2) is calculated for the crack depth
at ai + Aa.
where: This &..'(11/2) value follows from AK(1I/2) by:
threshold value for AK, below which no a + 1 0 + h.a 0.5
crack propagation occurs i
&"'(11/2): h.K (11/2)( a + lo ) ( 11)
i
t:,a fatigue limit of the material in the
e
unnotched situation.

575
4 THE CALCULATION Ol?FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN WELDED OTC 5352
----------
TITRITT.AR .TllTNTS
-“+ . . ..-
TISTN(2
-------
17RAP7’ITRR
.+-. ”----
MR(WANTCS
------------

6. Calculation of the new crack size and number of 25 mm depth the deviation is quite large, whereas
cycles to be used as new starting point: until this depth the difference is neglectible.
This implies that we may expect that the crack
=ai+Aa growth model describes the actual crack depth less
ai
accurate after a depth of 25 mm.
ci=ci+Ac
The stress situation
.--.----—-------—
=Ni+AN. . . . . . . . . . . . (12)
Ni
The stress range (Ao), relevant for the crack
growth calculations, is given by the so called hot-
7. Repeat the steps 2 to 6 until one of the required spot stress range (AUHs) as defined in reference
limits for a, c or N is met. [8]. This because for tubular joints, this hot-spot
stress range is the nominal stress range caused by
The accuracy of the crack growth calculation is the section forces in the chord wall, without the
dependent on the crack size increment and thus the stress raising effect of the weld geometry.
factor f. It was found that for f is about 0.02
accurate results were obtained with moderate This hot-spot stress range (AaHS) can be
computer costs. derived from the hot-spot strain range (AsHs)
determined from strain gauge measurements on the
specimen, by multiplying by Youngs’ modulus (E).
TNE CALCULATIONSFOR VERIFYING THE M3DEL Moreover due to the bi-axi.al stress state at the
hot-spot the results must be raised about 10% for
General
------- this type of joint. This means that the relevan
-k
stress range (Au) for B3 having a ASHS of 588*1O
In order to verify the fatigue crack growth follows from:
calculation model described in the previous
sections, crack growth calculations were carried out
for a fatigue tested tubular welded joint of which ‘u = ‘“lO*E*A&HS =
detailed crack growth data were available. The s I.10*0.21*106*588*10‘6 ~ 135 [N/mm2] (13)
crack growth data of this specimen (B3) were
obtained from the crack marks which were introduced For the crack growth calculations it is neceaaary to
during testing. The specimen B3 is one of the know which amount of Au is the bending stress range
fatigue tested specimen of the second phase ECSC (Aub) part and which amount is the tensile stress
offshore research programme [7]. The fatigue range (Aum) part. Finite element calculation and
results of B3 have also been reported in an earlier photo-elastic tests for this type of joint [12]
OTC paper [8]. The crack growth are reported indicate that the ratio of the tensile and bending
separately [9]. stress at the chord wall can be esttmated as:

Using the crack growth data of B3 haa one o

complication due to the fact that the weld toea of m
—=. 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(14)
B3 are ground, in order to investigate the effect of ab 3
grinding on the fatigue behaviour. still, the
results of this specimen are used because of its Combining equations 13 and 14 leads to the following
detailed crack growth data avatlable. tensile and bending stress ranges respectively:

Besides the comparison with specimen B3 the Aom= 35 [N/nmn2]

fatigue results of three–other specimens (specimen
13,14,15) were also compared but less extensively. Aub = 1001N/mm2] . . . . . . . . . ● . . .(15)
These specimens 13, 14 and 15 have been fatigue
tested during the first phase ECSC offshore research Specimen 13, 14 and 15 had different loadings and
program [10,111. No crack marking was introduced thus different hot spot strain ranges. In order to
for these specimen. For the crack depth only the compare these results with specimen B3 the number of
number of cycles, at the moment the crack had grown cycles were adjusted to the AcHS value of B3 by:
through, the wall is known. The surface crack
length was monitored during testing by visual
inspection. ‘SHS
N =N [ )mOQ 0.9.(16)
adjusted test
588*10-6
Dimensions and
------—--— crack growth data
-------------------
!fhemagnification factor (Q for the weld geometry
-----------—— ------------ -----------—.----——
The four specimens (B3,13,14,and 15) have the
same dimensions which are given In figure 6.The most For the Mk-values in case of specimen B3, the
relevant dimension with regard to the crack growth line for a (local) weld angle of 45” is used as
calculation is the chord wall thickness of 32 mm. starting point and modified for small crack depth
(a/t) values (see figure 5).
The crack growth data of B3 obtained by crack This modification is baaed on the fact that due to
marking (see table I ) show a greater depth at the the grinding of the weld toe the stresses and thus
end of the fatigue life than the actual chord wall the magnification factor will be reduced at the
thickness of 32 mm. This is caused by the fact that vicinity of the weld toe, whereas for greater crack
the crack does not grow exactly perpendicular depth the difference between an as-welded and ground
through the wall (see figure 7). Especially after weld toe will diminish.
K7C
O[u
OTC 5352 D.R.V. van Delft; O.D. Dijkstra; H.H. Snijder
Using this modification, the Mk-value at the
free surface is 2.1 which is in agreement with the
local stress concentration factor of about 2 - 2.5
determined by strain gauge measurements [8] for the
ground specimens.
For specimen 13, 14 and 15 the unmodified 45” line
is used.
Material constantsfor the crack mova~ation rate
The rate of crack propagation given by the
equations 2 is dependent on the material constants C
and m. Based on crack propagation tests on welded
specimen Maddox [13] concluded these constants for
the average crack propagation rate to be:
C= 1.08 * 10’13 (units: N, mm)
m = 3.07 . . . . . (171
The El Haddad correction
------------------------
The additional crack length 10 as suggested by
El Haddad ia depending on the threshold stress
intensity factor (AKth) and the fatigue limit (Aue)
according to equation 6. Both are to be considered
as material constants but quite difficult to obtain
from tests. Garwood [14] arrived at the following
average threshold value for mild steels:
-3/2
AKth=240-175R[Nmm ] . . . . . ..(18)
The load ratio (R) of the specimen B3 was O but due
to residual stresses even after grinding this value
will be higher. Estimating the stress ratio (R) at
the weld toe for this case at 0.35 leads to:
-3/2
AKth - 180 [Nmm ] . . . . . . . . . * ..(19).
The fatigue limit (AcI) for the material with the
same surface conditio?is as at the weld toe is
approximately:
Aoe = 200 [Nmm-2] . . . . . .=. . . . . . . (20>
These values substituted in equation 6 leads to the
following estimation:
1g)2=0.25[mm] . . . . . . . .. (21)
10 ‘F (200
It is mentioned here that this value is only a rough
estimation because the values AKth, Aae and R for
the situation at the weld toe are not very well
known.
The crack growth calculationresults
------------------------------------
Two crack growth calculations for the ground
weld toe are carried out. Calculation I differs from
calculation II by the fact that instead of the El
Haddad correction (l.) an initial crack of the same
size is assumed and by the fact that no reduction
(Fc) for the crack extension at the free surface is
applied. ~is in order to study-the effect of these
two refinements.
For the as-welded situation a third calculation
(III) is carried out. The input of the three
calculations is summarized in table II.
5
The resulting crack growth in depth (a) and in
length direction (c) is plotted in figure 8 and 9
respectively. The stress intensity factors and
crack shape (a/c) are plotted in figure 10 and 11
respectively as a function of the relative crack
depth (a/t).
The crack mark measurements for the toe ground
situation are also given in figure 8, 9 and 11.
For the as-welded situation the moment of. crack
through (given by the number of cycles adjusted
according to equation 16) is plotted in figure 8 for
the three test specimens (13, 14 and 15).
DISCUSSIONOF THE RESULTS
The crack growth for the ground situation
-----------------------------------------
up to a fatigue life of 1000 kc the both
calculations for the ground situation (I, II) hardly
differ from each other and from the actual measured
crack growth data. This means that an El Haddad
correction or an initial crack size of 0.25 mm
results in equivalent crack growth. Moreover this
estimate of 0.25 mm leads to crack growth results
that fit the actual crack growth data quite well.
For the fatigue life over 1000 kc the results
of calculation 11 are in good agreement with the
actual crack growth data. Calculation I does agree
with the actual crack growth in depth direction
also, but overestimates the crack growth in length
direction. So,it seems that using the crack growth
reduction factor Fc in II leads to better results.
At the end phase of the fatigue life both crack
growth calculations give a fatigue growth which is
more than measured. Possibly, at this stage the
crack size is such that redistribution of the load
carrying area’s of the joint is overcompensating the
reduction of the net section originally carrying the
load. Fortunately the crack growth model gives a
conservative prediction of the crack growth.
Recapitulating the results of calculation II,
it can be concluded that the crack growth model
predicts the actual crack growth very accurately up
to 80% of the fatigue life (crack through) and
beyond that stage the model tends to be conservative
(overestimating the crack growth).
The crack growth for the as-welded situation
--------------------------------------------
The comparison of calculation III with the
results of specimens 13, 14 and 15 in the crack
depth direction (see fig. 8) shows a rather good
agreement between calculation and experiments. The
experimental results in the crack length direction
(not presented here) vary for the three specimens.
In general the measured crack length is larger than
the calculated length. It is supposed that a part of
the discrepancy can be explained by multi-
initiation. So, although the model predicts the
fatigue life of as welded specimens rather well, the
crack length prediction is probably disturbed by
multi-initiation.
6 THE CALCULATION OF FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN WELDED OTC 5352
TUBULAR JOINTS USIN{ ?.ACTUREM?,CHANICS

Remark on the influenceof the weld geometry

...---—--.-.------.---.--------.---— ------ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The crack growth calculation for the ground The work described in this paper was carried
situation of B3 (talc. II) differs from the out for the bridge department of the Dutch
calculation for the as-welded situation (talc. III) governamental organisation “Rijkswaterstaat”. The
only by the fact that the Mk-value is modified for authors wish to thank Rijkswaterstaat for their
small crack depths (see figure 5). By comparing the permission to publish this paper.
results it is evident that the influence of the Mk-
values is quite substantially.
REFERENCES
Nevertheless there are a some uncertainties
about the M -values. [11 DeIft, D.R.V. van. : “A two dimensional
First of a5 1 the Mk-values are determined for a analysis of the stresses at the vicinity of
constant depth surface crack (a/c = O) instead of a the weld toes of welded tubular joints”.
semi-elliptical crack. TH-Stevin report 6-81-8, June 1981.
Furthermore the values presented by Maddox are for a
tensile loaded plate. It may be expected that in [2] Raju, 1.S.; Newman, J.C. : “An empirical
case of bending the ~-values are different. stress-intensity factor equation for the
And the influence of the radius at the weld toe is surface crack.” Engineering Fracture
not investigated. Because of this it is likely that Mechanics, Vol. 15 (1981), pp. 185-192.
calculations With this model will show less
thickness effect than in reality. [3] Scott, P.M.; Thorpe, T.W.: “A critical review
This means that, although the model describes the of crack tip stress intensity factors for
early stage of crack growth for the verified cases semi-elliptic cracks”. The Int. Journal
very well, research on the Mk-value is of major “Fatigue and engineering materials and
importance. structures”. 1981, Vol. 4, No.4, pp. 291-309.

Remark on the influenceof joint type & loadingmode [4]

---------------------------------------------------- Maddox, S.J.: “An analysis of fatigue cracks
in fillet welded joints”. Welding Institute
The crack growth model is verified for one type report E/49/72.
of specimen and loading mode only. It may be doubted
whether for other types of joints and loading modes r,5] El Haddad, M.H.; Topper, T.H.; Topper, T.N.:
the model also correctly describes the fatigue crack “Fatigue life predictions of Smooth and
growth. It is therefore indeed necessary that the Notched Specimens Based on Fracture
model is verified for more fatigue test results. On Mechanics”. Journal of Eng. Materials and
the other hand investigations [15] on S-N basis of Technology, April 1981, Vol. 103, pp. 91-96.
fatigue test results did not show a significantly
different fatigue behaviour for different joint [6 Snijder, H.H.; Dijkstra, O.D.; Delft, D.R.V.
types and loading modes. van: “FAFRAM-computer program for the evalua-
tion of FAtigue behaviour of structures using
FBActure Mechanics”, report BI-85-102, IBBC-
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION TNO, Netherlands, Rijswijk, 1985.

A simple crack growth model for a tubular joint [7
based on fracture mechanics is developed in which:
The welded connection of the brace- and chord wall
is schematized to a plate with an attachment.
At the weld toe location, a semi-elliptical crack [8]
is assumed.
Stress intensity factors for depth and length
directions are calculated using formulae collected
from literature.
For the crack propagation, Paris’ law is applied [9]
in two directions with a reduction factor for the
crack propagation at the free surface.
An additional crack depth of 0.25 mm is added for
short cracks.
[10] De Back, J., Vaessen G.H.G., et al.: “Effect
This crack growth model is verified by comparing the
the results, with actual crack growth in a fatigue
tested tubular joint. The calculated crack shape and
crack size as a function of the number of load
cycles are in accurate agreement with the measured
crack growth data of a toe grounitubular joint.
The calculated fatigue life of en as-welded joint is [11
also in good agreement with test results.
De Back, J., Vaessen G.H.G., et al.: “Fatigue
and corrosion fatigue behaviour of offshore
steel structures”. ECSC convention 7210 -
KB/6/602 (J.7.lf/76), Delft, Apeldoorn, 1981.
Dijkstra, O.D. and Noordhoek, C.: “The Effect
of Grinding and a Special Weld Profile on the
Fatigue Behaviour of Large-Scale Tubular
Joints.” OTC 4866, 1985.
Noordhoek, C.; Verheul, A.: “Comparison of the
ACPD-method of in-depth fatigue crack
monitoring with the crack front marking
technique.” Delft,1984.TH-Stevin rep. 6-84-13.
of plate thickness, temperature and weld toe
profile on the fatigue and corroston fatigue
behaviour of welded offshore structures”.
ESCS convention 7210-KG/601 (F7. 4/81), Delft,
Apeldoorn, May, 1984.
Dijkstra, O.D. and de Back, J.: “Fatigue
strength of tubular T- and X-joints”.
OTC 3696, 1980
OTC 5352 D.R.V. van DeIft; O.D. Dijkstra; H.H. Snijder 7

[12] Clayton, A.M.: “Effect of weld profile on [14] Garwood, S.J.: “Fatigue crack growth threshold
stresses in tubular T-joints”. Interim - a simple estimation technique.” The Welding
Technical report UKOSRP 2/03. Instit-uteResearch Bulletin, 1979.

[13] Maddox, S.J.: “A fracture mechanics analysis [15] I&ft, D.R.V. van, Noordhoek, C. and Back, J.
of the fatigue behaviour of a fillet welded : “Evaluation of the European Fatigue Test
joint.” Welding Research International., Vol. Data on Large-Size Welded Tubular Joints for
6, No. 5. pp. 1-34. Offshore Structures”. OTC 4999, 1985.

TABLE 1 TABLE 11

CNACR GROWTR DATA FOR SPECIMEN B3 INPUT DATA FOR CRACK GROWTN CALCULATIONS
OBTAINED ET CRACK MARKING

fatigue life crack length at crack depth a CALCULATION

free surface 2c
(K cycles) (mm) (mm) I II 111

883 30.2 6.5 Aub [MPa] 100 100 100

1077 60.9 11.2 Aum [MPa] 35 35 35
1182 91.0 14.3 t [mm] 32 32 32
1285 123.3 18.0 m 3.07 3.07 3.09
1448 202.2 24.2 c [N, mm] 1.08*10-13 1.08*10-13 1.08*10-13
1548 267.0 28.8 1 [mm] 0.0 0.25 0.25
0
1660 350.0 32.2 Fc 1.0 0.9 0.9
1753 418.0 35.8 ai [mm] 0.25 0.0 0.0
Ci [mm] 0.25 0.0 O*O
f 2% 2% 2%

-—-
579
 n8RME
WALL

/“1
GJJJB.AL
WELD AffiLE

.LOCAL:
.
WELO AN6~

%. \
%Q CRACK

RME

CHORO

&~.

Fig. 1—Tubular T-joint with fatigue crack at hot spot. Fig. 2-.Slmplified geometry for crack growth model.

0.0
f.5 -

alc=f’o alc.l. o

1“0 ‘ak=06 1.0 -

ale= 0.6

ak= 0, alc .04

1
UIC=0,2
a/c. 02

alc .0.1

z
CIIC=O .02
z

~ t
o o 02 0.4 06 08 1
alt
a/,

Fig. 3—Correction factor Mm for semi-elliptic cracke in tension. 3

Fig. 4—Correction factor Mb far semi-elliptic cracks in bending. 3
 A

A
0
F+

,
u
—.—. +. —. —.. .
F
(l/f —-

Flg. 5—Magniflcation factor M~ for different weld profiles. 3900

7

Fig. 6—Dimensions of tested Specimens 63, 13, 14, and 15.

t“’’’””’’’’’’’’’”” i
35 ~ A

A
30:

25~
E 20:
E 111
15:

10:

5: A CRRCK MRRKS

I
o 500 1000 1500 2000
NUHBER OF CYCLE3 (KC] _

Fig. 8—Crack depth growth for ground–(1, 11)and as welded (1[1)situation.

Fig. 7-Weld profile and fatigue crack at hot spot of

Specimen B3.
 HRLF CRi?CK LENGTH C [ml _

STRESS INTENSITY FRCTORS (N/:m-W2)

~
g ~ :=
~
yraoo 00

“w
x
;

“m

“m

“0