In the context of linear elastic stress gradients that are present in welded joints, a stress field approach based on notch stress intensity factors is presented with the aim of describing stress distributions in the neighbourhood of weld toes, since fatigue strength is dependent on such distributions. This paper summarizes the analytical fundamentals and gives an appropriate definition of the parameters for stress components under opening and sliding modes. Then, by comparing the expected results with those obtained by numerical analysis, the contributions of the symmetric and skew‐symmetric loading modes are quantified for different geometries, and summarized into concise expressions which also take into account the influence of the main geometrical parameters of the welded joint. The range of validity and the application limits of this field approach in the presence of weld toe radii are discussed. Finally, a synthesis of experimental fatigue strength data based on the new field parameters is reported.

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The problem of evaluating linear elastic stress fields in the neighborhood of cracks and notches is considered. An analytical solution valid for cracked and notched components is given in general terms, according to Muskhelishvili's method based on complex stress functions. The solution is particularly useful for V-shape notches in wide and finite plates under uniform tensile loading. It will be demonstrated that some remarkable solutions of fracture mechanics and notch analysis already reported in the literature can be considered special cases of this general solution, as soon as appropriate values of the free parameters are adopted.

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