Creep Behavior of Transverse Welded Lap Joints at Elevated Temperatures.

This paper summarizes preliminary results of an experimental investigation on the creep behavior of transverse welded lap joints at elevated temperatures. The aim of this study is to quantify the time-to-failure for transverse welded lap joints exposed to high temperatures. In this study, two series of experiments were conducted. In the first series, the specimens were heated to target temperatures and then loaded to failure to estimate the peak load P that the specimens could sustain at each target temperature. In the second series, after the specimens were heated to the test temperatures, fractions of the peak load P were applied rapidly and kept constant throughout the test. Through the combination of these two series of experiments, the effect of load and temperature on the time-dependent or creep behavior of transverse welded lap joints was studied. The experimental results show that, for temperatures greater than 450°C, transverse welded lap joints undergo excessive deformation due to creep, and that creep effect becomes more significant as load and temperature increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]