Long fatigue crack growth behaviour of ferritic steel weld metal

Abstract

Single edge notched weld joint specimens were tested at different stress levels to study the long fatigue crack growth behaviour of a ferritic steel (nuclear grade SA333 Grade 6 steel) weld metal at two stress ratios R of 0·1 and – 1. A two slope behaviour was noticed in the crack growth rate versus stress intensity factor range plots at both stress ratios. Different parameters were employed to generalise the load ratio effect on fatigue crack growth rate.