Fatigue of web-flange weld of corrugated web girders: 1. Influence of web corrugation geometry and flange geometry on web-flange weld toe stresses

The fatigue performance of the web-flange weld of steel girders with trapezoidal corrugated webs was examined experimentally, using large-scale girder specimens, and analytically. The focus was on a region of constant bending moment. Fatigue cracks initiated at many points along the inclined folds, and then propagated perpendicular to the principal stress direction. Propagation of cracks initiating near the end of the inclined folds led to failure. Parametric FEM analyses indicated that the corrugation angle and the bend radius at the fold lines of the corrugations are the parameters that most influence the stress at the web-flange weld toe.