Review on fracture and crack propagation in weldments – A fracture mechanics perspective

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 132; pp. 200 - 276
• Main Authors: Zerbst, U., Ainsworth, R.A., Beier, H.Th, Pisarski, H., Zhang, Z.L., Nikbin, K., Nitschke-Pagel, T., Münstermann, S., Kucharczyk, P., Klingbeil, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2014
• Subjects: Assessments; Crack propagation; Fatigue crack propagation; Fatigue failure; Fracture mechanics; Fracture toughness; Metallurgy; Reduction; Residual stresses; Strength mismatch; Tensile properties; Welding; Weldments; Weldments; Fracture mechanics; Residual stresses; Strength mismatch; Fatigue crack propagation; Fracture toughness
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2014.05.012

•Comprehensive review on fracture mechanics application to weldments.•Discussion of recent developments in areas such as materials testing, strength mismatch and secondary stresses.•Discussion of crack initiation and early crack propagation in welds.
Welding is one of the most common methods in industrial practice for joining components. Its main advantages are high speed in manufacturing combined with low costs and, usually, a high degree of flexibility, integrity and reliability. Nevertheless, welding is a highly complex metallurgical process and, therefore, weldments are susceptible to material discontinuities, flaws and residual stresses which may lead to structural failure and life time reduction. As a consequence weldments are an important field of fracture mechanics methods although its application is more complex than for homogeneous or non-welded structures. The aim of the paper is to provide an overview on the current state of fracture mechanics application to weldments. It starts by discussing the specific features which any fracture mechanics analysis of weldments has to take into account. Then, the experimental determination of fracture toughness, fatigue crack propagation and tensile properties of weldments is addressed. Finally, the analytical determination of the crack driving force in components and structural integrity assessment approaches for weldments are presented.