Fatigue Performance of S460 High-Strength Steel Welded Joints: Experimental and Numerical Approaches

This study investigates the fatigue performance of cruciform welded joints in thin S460NL high-strength steel plates. An integrated approach combining experimental fatigue testing, finite element modelling and hardness mapping was used. Fatigue tests were conducted at a stress ratio of R = 0.1, and finite element simulations were used to gain insight into stress concentration near the weld toe. Vickers hardness mapping revealed the microstructural changes induced by welding. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in fatigue life due to welding, with cracks consistently originating at the weld toe. These findings emphasize the necessity of more precise welding techniques and encourage further research into extending the methodology to S690 and S960 steels, as well as to joints in a corroded state