Review of fatigue assessment procedures for welded aluminium structures

This paper presents a review of methods and corresponding Codes and Standards for the fatigue assessment of welded aluminium alloy structures. Methods for the fatigue evaluation of welded aluminium structures are assessed from the viewpoints of original design and estimation of the residual life of existing structures. Based partly on a literature search, but also reference to data used in the formulation of recent fatigue design Standards, it goes on to review the information available for such assessments in design or guidance specifications in the light of relevant fatigue data. With regard to design specifications, particular attention is focussed on recent fatigue data obtained from structural components representative of actual structures. Recommendations are made for future research.