Crack detection via strain measurements in fatigue testing

Fatigue cracks have appeared as a significant issue for joints and connections in existing steel structures the last decades. Therefore, those are major inspection maintenance matter any structure's operator. This emphasises importance of using reliable detection method to determine crack size assessing severity such on structural integrity structure. In this article, effectiveness strain measurement detecting fatigue transversal non-load carrying welded attachment subjected out plane axial loading is studied. Numerical analysis experimental investigations allowed correlate decrease measured by attached gauges depth at weld toe. addition, different evolution patterns were found during testing, fracture surfaces specimens observed interpret these patterns. Moreover, position with respect toe surface was predicted via measurements.