State-of-the-art review of peak stress method for fatigue strength assessment of welded joints

In the fatigue design framework of welded structures, the peak stress method (PSM) is a rapid engineering, FE-based technique for estimating notch stress intensity factors (NSIFs). This review provides a theoretical background and applies the PSM to assess the fatigue strength of arc-welded joints made of aluminium alloys or structural steels, which are subjected to uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue loads. Because two fatigue design curves are available for each class of materials, a criterion for selecting the appropriate curve depending on the local biaxiality of the stress state is established.