• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.11 no.4 s.41
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• pp.339-350
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• 1999

In this study, blowholes, a kind of solid defects, were intentionally introduced in transverse butt-welded joints which are widely used for the connection of main members in steel structures to evaluate the fatigue characteristics of these joints with blowholes according to the difference of the size and shape of blowholes, and a series of tests were performed. Static test results proved that the static strength of these joints with blowholes was not affected by their size and shape. From the fatigue test results on these joints with blowholes, the size and shape of blowholes inside the weld metals were strongly affected in fatigue strength, and we suggested the relationship between fatigue strength and their size and shape quantitatively. Also, Using the relationship of fatigue crack growth rate and stress intensity factor range, the fatigue life of transverse butt-welded joints with blowholes can be estimated properly.