A ductile failure model applied to the determination of the fracture toughness of welded joints. Numerical simulation and experimental validation

A ductile-failure model for analysing the fracture behaviour of welded joints has been implemented. Finite element analyses of mismatched welded joints have been performed using the computational cell methodology applied to SE(B) specimens. Different crack lengths, material mismatching, and widths of weld metal have been considered. Ductile parameters have been experimentally and numerically obtained. The influence of geometry and material mismatching on the fracture behaviour of cracked welded joints has been validated by means of a testing program. In addition, the experimental results have been explained through the crack tip constraint, which has been numerically determined.