This book provides background and guidance on the use of the structural
hot-spot stress approach to fatigue analysis. The book also offers
Design S-N curves for use with the structural hot-spot stress for a
range of weld details, and presents parametric formulas for calculating
stress increases due to misalignment and structural discontinuities.
Highlighting the extension to structures fabricated from plates and
non-tubular sections. The structural hot-spot stress approach focuses on
cases of potential fatigue cracking from the weld toe and it has been in
use for many years in tubular joints.
Following an explanation of the structural hot-spot stress, its
definition and its relevance to fatigue, the book describes methods for
its determination. It considers stress determination from both finite
element analysis and strain gauge measurements, and emphasizes the use
of finite element stress analysis, providing guidance on the choice of
element type and size for use with either solid or shell elements.
Lastly, it illustrates the use of the recommendations in four case
studies involving the fatigue assessment of welded structures using the
structural hot-spot stress