A probabilistic model for determining the effect of post-weld treatment on the fatigue performance of tubular bridge joints

• Published in: International Journal of Fatigue (ISSN: 0142-1123), vol. 29, num. 3, p. 516-532
• Elsevier, 2007

Herein, a probabilistic model for predicting the effect of post-weld treatment on the fatigue performance of the welded joints in tubular truss bridges is described. Specifically, a probabilistic LEFM-based model is first developed for the fatigue analysis of single untreated and treated crack sites in tubular K-joints. A systems reliability approach is then proposed for the analysis of tubular structures with multiple potential crack sites. Using this approach, it is then demonstrated that significant improvements in the fatigue reliability of tubular joints with dimensions common to bridge structures can be obtained with post-weld treatment, even when the influences of the various untreated and treated potential crack sites are considered.

Keywords: Tubular bridge joints; Post-weld treatment; Fracture mechanics; Fatigue; Systems reliability

Reference

• EPFL-ARTICLE-151543
• doi:10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2006.04.006
• View record in Web of Science

Record created on 2010-09-09, modified on 2012-03-21