Fatigue Tests of 8‐yr Weathered A588 Steel Weldment

Abstract

Fatigue tests of 62 specimens determined the effect of 3‐year, alternate, and 8‐year weathering on the number of cycles to failure of a transverse stiffener detail fabricated from ASTM A588 weathering steel. These three weathering conditions reduced the mean losses in fatigue life by 42%, 42% and 54%, respectively, as compared to the life of the nonweathered control specimens. The loss in life came at the expense of the number of cycles needed to initiate fatigue cracks and is attributed to rust pitting. The progressive nature of the loss in life with length of exposure time is similar to that reported in the literature for corrosion penetration and pit depth.