| Abstract: | The Albrecht method was used to compute stress intensity factors in non-load carrying fillet welds subjected to tension and cantilever bending for cracks growing from the tip of the weld toe through the plate thickness. The stresses were obtained using a two dimensional finite element programme with eight node isoparametric elements with two degrees of freedom in each node. A detailed study of the influence of weld and plate geometry on both the stress concentration and stress intensity factor values was carried out.The results in bending showed stress intensity values 20 to 30% lower than in tension. The weld affected the stress intensity and stress concentration results only for small crack length values less than 0.1 to 0.12 of the thickness of the main plate. The results also indicated that neither the lack of penetration nor the plate length affected the stress intensity values significantly. Weld angle and plate thickness were the main parameters influencing the stress intensity values. The results in tension were compared with similar results published in the literature and good agreement was found. |
