EPFL Logo
fr|en
Login
Publication

Stress intensity factors for axial semi-elliptical surface cracks and embedded elliptical cracks at longitudinal butt welded joints of steel-lined pressure tunnels and shafts considering weld shape

Anton Schleiss, Pedro Filipe De Almeida Manso, Alexandre Jean Pachoud
2017
Journal paper
Abstract

When for steel liners of pressure tunnels and shafts high-strength steels are used, welded joints are subject to the risk of hydrogen induced cold-cracking in the base material. Longitudinal butt welded joints are critical regions as they are loaded transversely. For an accurate engineering fatigue and fracture assessment, solutions for stress intensity factors (SIF) are required, considering the weld shape and the global behavior of the liner (i.e., geometrical imperfections and interaction with surrounding concrete and rock). In this study, SIF for axial semi-elliptical surface cracks and embedded elliptical cracks at longitudinal butt welded joints of steel liners are studied by means of the finite element method. At first the applicability of published parametric equations for SIF of elliptical cracks in plates is validated. Then the influence of the weld shape is assessed through a systematic parametric study. It is shown that the weld profile has a significant influence on SIF for semi-elliptical surface cracks while it has no significant influence on SIF for embedded elliptical cracks within the studied range of relative crack depth. Finally, a new parametric equation is proposed to estimate the weld shape correction factor for semi-elliptical surface cracks.

Official source
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Ontological neighbourhood
Chemical engineering
Related concepts (35)
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube construction techniques rather than traditional tunnel boring methods. A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. The central portions of a rapid transit network are usually in the tunnel.
Welding
Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature techniques such as brazing and soldering, which do not melt the base metal (parent metal). In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.
Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel under the Hudson River that connects Hudson Square and Lower Manhattan in New York City in the east to Jersey City, New Jersey in the west. The tunnel is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and carries Interstate 78. The New Jersey side of the tunnel is the eastern terminus of NJ Route 139. The Holland Tunnel is one of three vehicular crossings between Manhattan and New Jersey; the two others are the Lincoln Tunnel and George Washington Bridge.
Show more
Related publications (33)

Experimental investigation of the cyclic properties of welds in mild structural steels

Selimcan Ozden

Structural steels have long been used in construction applications. Their mechanical properties and behavior under seismic loading or under fatigue design are of considerable interest for researchers and engineers. Although extensive studies have been cond ...
2021

The influence of the kinematics of rough surface engagement on the transfer of forces in cracked concrete

Miguel Fernández Ruiz

One of the most instrumental aspects governing the response of structural concrete at ultimate limit state refers to the possibility of developing smeared cracking patterns within a member (associated normally to the presence of sufficient reinforcement fo ...
2021

Influence of the optical measurement technique and evaluation approach on the determination of local weld geometry parameters for different weld types

Alain Nussbaumer, Martin Antonio René Garcia

The joining by welding processes of components is usually related to the creation of additional notches and geometrical peculiarities. Multiple investigations have shown that a clear correlation between the local weld geometry and the fatigue life of welde ...
2019
Show more
Related MOOCs (2)
The Art of Structures I - Cables and arcs
Ce cours présente les principes du fonctionnement, du dimensionnement et de la conception des structures. L'approche est basée sur une utilisation de la statique graphique et traite en particulier des
The Art of Structures I - Cables and arcs
L'art des structures propose une découverte du fonctionnement des structures porteuses, telles que les bâtiments, les toitures ou les ponts. Ce cours présente les principes du dimensionnement et les s

Copyright © 2025 EPFL, all rights reserved

Graph Chatbot

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.