Welding joints failure assessment – fracture mechanics approach

Abstract

Fracture mechanics is a quite new discipline that characterizes the brittle fracture processes and develops practical assessing and checking methods, in order to conclude upon the imperfections of a material. The presence of imperfections makes the difference in fracture mechanics compared with the strength of the material field which starts from the prerequisite that the material has no flaws. The main characteristics of fracture mechanics are: it accepts the existence of the crack/defect, studies the appearance and the crack propagation speed, and the remaining life in the safe service state of the structural element. The present paper is proposing a description of the failure assessment for a welded joint using fracture mechanics principles. Description and detailing of concepts are done for ease of understanding the assessing algorithm.