Experimental study on fatigue properties of Q420C steel welded joints at room temperature

To evaluate the fatigue life of Q420C steel welded joints, fatigue tests were performed on butt-welded joints, cross-butt-welded joints and cross-fillet-welded joints. The fatigue strength S-N curves of the joints were fitted. Then the formation and development of fatigue cracks were analyzed by fracture morphology. The fatigue properties of joints were compared with literature data and standard curves. The results showed that the fatigue test data of the three types of welded joints were roughly above the standard curves. Moreover, the fatigue strength of butt-welded joint was significantly higher than the calculated values of standards, indicating a large safety margin. The test value of cross-butt-welded joint was close to the calculated values of standards, so it is suggested to moderately reduce the standard values. In addition, all the three standards could well predict the fatigue life of cross-fillet-welded joint. The fracture morphology of the specimens showed the development process of fatigue damage, and the fatigue displacement curve and damage curve proved the formation of the fatigue fracture in specimens.