The purpose of this paper is to provide designers with the basic ideas in evaluating the general metallurgical and mechanical conditions affecting the performance of welded structures and weldments. The effects of design and fabricating details are shown to ultimately determine performance, especially in the fatigue loadings induced in ground vehicles. Considerations in static, fatigue, and impact loadings are analyzed for each of these conditions. Factors considered are: base metal, weld metal, weld heat-affected zone, joint design, fit-up, residual stress, weld quality, and welding costs.
The discussion is rather general and basic, although limited to the arc-welding of low-carbon structural steels. The primary intent is to provide Engineers new to weldment design with a foundation of information from which to build. Experienced structural designers, however, may also find it beneficial as a review or to restore perspective.