Stochastic analysis on fatigue life of butt-welded joints with uneven thickness considering mean stress effects.

With the wide application of steel structure buildings and bridges, the fatigue of welded connections has gradually become a research upsurge. Accurate evaluation of fatigue behavior is the most challenge issue for the study of fatigue failure of welded structures. In this paper, the conventional S-N curve was calculated by Bayesian method, and compared with several standards and probability models, such as EN1993-1-9, IIW-1823-07, ASTM E739 and Weibull distribution model etc. To consider the influence of load ratio R reflecting mean stress on fatigue life, using Bayesian method and S-N-R model, the design fatigue life of the welded joints was successfully calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]