Fracture prediction in transverse fillet welded joints of high strength structural steel

Due to the huge property difference between high strength structural (HSS) steels and mild steels after welding, mechanical behavior and failure mode of fillet welded joints of HSS steels should be studied further. Numerical simulations can provide increased insight into this topic. This paper concerns finite element simulations of component tests of two types transverse fillet welded joints of HSS steels: lap-welded transverse fillet welds and cruciform type transverse fillet welds. In order to investigate the influences of triaxial stress states on fracture ductility of weld metals, a series of tests on specimens with various initial geometries are carried out. By comparing three typical uncoupled fracture models (stress triaxiality-dependent ductile fracture model (VGM), Lode angle-dependent ductile fracture model (MSSM) and combination of stress triaxiality and Lode angle ductile fracture model (BWM)), BWM gives precious prediction of ductile fracture of weld metals. The behaviors in terms of load-displacement and failure modes of transverse fillet welds are all well captured by the numerical simulations with calibrated ductile fracture models. Specifically, the location of fracture initiation and propagation of cracks obtained from simulations are both identical with real responses. • Effects of triaxial stress states on fracture ductility of weld metals are studied. • An uncoupled ductile fracture model for weld metals is adopted and calibrated. • Mechanical behavior of transverse fillet welded joints are simulated.