Geometric functions of stress intensity factor solutions for spot welds in lap-shear specimens

In this paper, the stress intensity factor solutions for spot welds in lap-shear specimens are investigated by finite element analyses. Three-dimensional finite element models are developed for lap-shear specimens to obtain accurate stress intensity factor solutions. In contrast to the existing investigations of the stress intensity factor solutions based on the finite element analyses, various ratios of the sheet thickness, the half specimen width, the overlap length, and the specimen length to the nugget radius are considered in this investigation. The computational results confirm the functional dependence on the nugget radius and sheet thickness of the stress intensity factor solutions of [Zhang, S., 1997. Stress intensities at spot welds. International Journal of Fracture 88, 167–185; Zhang, S., 1999. Approximate stress intensity factors and notch stresses for common spot-welded specimens. Welding Journal 78, 173s–179s]. The computational results provide some geometric functions in terms of the normalized specimen width, the normalized overlap length, and the normalized specimen length to the stress intensity factor solutions of [Zhang, S., 1997. Stress intensities at spot welds. International Journal of Fracture 88, 167–185; Zhang, S., 1999. Approximate stress intensity factors and notch stresses for common spot-welded specimens. Welding Journal 78, 173s–179s] for lap-shear specimens. The computational results also indicate that when the spacing between spot welds decreases, the mode I stress intensity factor solution at the critical locations increases and the mode mixture of the stress intensity factors changes consequently. Finally, based on the analytical and computational results, the dimensions of lap-shear specimens and the corresponding approximate stress intensity factor solutions are suggested.