Calculation of 3D Residual Notch Stress Intensity Factors by means of the Peak Stress Method: a preliminary investigation

. Residual stress influences the crack initiation and propagation in mechanical components. In the recent literature new approaches were developed to include the residual stress effects on the fatigue strength of welded joints. Among these, the local approach based on the calculation of the Residual Notch Stress Intensity Factors (R-NSIFs) seems very promising. Unfortunately, its main drawback is linked to the difficulty to assess such parameters by means of numerical simulation of the welding process because of the high mesh density required to capture the residual stress filed singularity. In this scenario, new numerical methodologies are needed which use coarse meshes such as the Peak Stress Method (PSM). In this work, a preliminary investigation aimed to analyze the PSM applicability for the estimation of R-NSIF values in a 3D butt-welded joint is described.