Fatigue performance analysis and life prediction of steel-UHPC stud weld based on fracture mechanics

WANG Da; LIU Jing-an; SHI Jia-lin; TAN Ben-kun

doi:10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.015

Volume 25 Issue 5

Oct. 2025

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WANG Da, LIU Jing-an, SHI Jia-lin, TAN Ben-kun. Fatigue performance analysis and life prediction of steel-UHPC stud weld based on fracture mechanics[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2025, 25(5): 220-233. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.015

Citation:

WANG Da, LIU Jing-an, SHI Jia-lin, TAN Ben-kun. Fatigue performance analysis and life prediction of steel-UHPC stud weld based on fracture mechanics[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2025, 25(5): 220-233. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.015

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Fatigue performance analysis and life prediction of steel-UHPC stud weld based on fracture mechanics

doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.015

1.
School of Civil Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, Hunan, China
2.
School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, Hunan, China

Funds:

National Natural Science Foundation of China 52278235

National Natural Science Foundation of China 52508190

Transportation Technology Project of Hunan Province 202309

Innovation Project of Central South University of Forestry and Technology 202403

Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department 24C0321

More Information

Corresponding author: WANG Da (1980-), male, professor, PhD, yxwang2006@yeah.net
Received Date: 2025-03-10
Accepted Date: 2025-08-25
Rev Recd Date: 2025-07-16
Publish Date: 2025-10-28

Abstract

Abstract

To investigate the influence of weld dimensions on the fatigue life and failure modes of stud connectors in steel-UHPC composite structures, a 1/4 symmetric finite element model of pushing specimens was established based on ABAQUS software. For pushing specimens with three stud diameters of 13, 16, and 19 mm, the influence mechanisms of weld parameters (weld diameter and weld height) and initial fatigue crack depth on fatigue performance were systematically investigated. Analysis reliability of the finite element model was verified using experimental data, and a fatigue life prediction method incorporating weld dimensions was proposed. Analysis results indicate that the SWT parameter on path 1 is negatively correlated with weld diameter, and the critical plane is concentrated in the middle of the stud weld. The crack initiation life on path 1 and path 3 increases with the increase of weld diameter, while it shows the opposite trend on path 2. Additionally, the crack initiation life on path 1 is significantly lower than that on path2 and path3, which indicates that cracks preferentially initiate on path 1. The total fatigue life of the stud initially increases and then decreases as weld diameter decreases. When the ratios of the weld diameters to the diameters of the 13, 16 and 19 mm studs drops to 1.15, 1.19 and 1.16 respectively, the failure mode transitions from path 2 to path 1. At this point, the total fatigue life of the stud reaches its peak, corresponding to the optimal weld diameter to stud diameter combination for the stud. The SWT parameter on path 1 is positively correlated with weld height, while the crack initiation life on path 1 decreases with increasing weld height but increases on path 2 and path 3. When weld height decreases, the crack initiation location shifts from path 1 to path 2, and the failure mode of the stud under low load amplitudes undergoes a corresponding transition. The total fatigue life of the stud exhibits a monotonically increasing trend with the increase of weld height. The increase of initial fatigue crack depth leads to a marked decrease in the total fatigue life of the stud. A fatigue life prediction model that quantifies the coupled effect of weld dimensions on fatigue performance is proposed in this study, which provides a theoretical foundation for the optimization design and life evaluation of stud connectors in steel-UHPC composite structures.
- bridge engineering,
- steel-UHPC composite structure,
- fracture mechanic,
- weld dimension,
- fatigue life,
- failure mode,
- parametric analysis

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References(34)

References

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