SCALE EFFECTS IN FATIGUE DESIGN DATA FOR WELDED AND UNWELDED COMPONENTS

The main sources of scale effects observed in fatigue tests are discussed and various approaches to correct for such effects in current design practice are reviewed. Experimental results are collated and prediction models for size effects in fatigue of welded joints and mechanical components are examined. A unified approach applicable to welded and unwelded components in which the size effect is related to the severity of the notch is proposed.