Numerical assessment of fatigue design curve of welded T-joint improved by high-frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) treatment

In the paper, the fatigue performances of as-welded T-joint and T-joint improved by high frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) were numerically investigated using structural hot spot stress approaches: linear surface extrapolation (LSE) and through thickness at the weld toe (TTWT). The effects of main plate thickness and material strength for HFMI-treated joints were investigated. The results showed that the TTWT method was more effective to study the effect of thickness on T-joints improved by HFMI treatment than LSE method. For as-welded T-joints, the thickness correction exponent n = 0.04 was obtained when the attachment plate thickness was set as constant. For HFMI-treated T-joints, a reverse thickness effect was observed with negative thickness correction exponents, and the thickness correction exponents increased with material strength. In addition, the adoption of S-N slope varying with yield strength was proven to be more proper for HFMI improvement assessment.