Sequence effect of as-welded and HFMI-treated transverse attachments under variable loading with linear spectrum

Abstract It has been shown in several studies that methods to improve the fatigue strength of welded structures, such as high-frequency impact treatment (HFMI), can increase the fatigue life of welded joints [1–6]. The results of these investigations led to current guidelines and recommendations for the fatigue assessment of HFMI-treated welded joints. Nevertheless, in practice, there are reservations regarding the efficiency of HFMI-treated welded steel joints under variable amplitude loading. Recent results [7] from studies on transverse attachments of the material S355 and S700 under variable amplitude loading show that the fatigue strength increasing effect of the HFMI-treatment is maintained compared to the as-welded state. The aim of this study is to analyse the sequence effect on the fatigue strength of HFMI-treated transverse attachments and to validate the applicability of linear damage accumulation hypotheses for the design of as-welded and HFMI-treated welded details. In this paper, fatigue test results with random variable amplitude loading (VAL) and high-low VAL and low–high VAL with linear spectrum for the two states as-welded (AW) and HFMI-treated joints will be presented.