Revision of fatigue detail categories of plain members and mechanically fastened joints according to EC3-1-9

The present paper deals with the reassessment of fatigue detail categories of plain members and mechanically fastened joints (Table 8.1 in EC3-1-9) based on published fatigue test data. For a differentiated re-evaluation of details an elaborate database structure has been set up. Detail categories of different types of plain members and mechanically fastened joints have been investigated and revised by evaluating the collected fatigue data. Finally, several influences on the fatigue strength of the revised details have been analysed and design recommendations are given. For shear or gas cut plates, higher fatigue classes have been determined. In case of sheared or gas cut plates with subsequent dressing and double covered preloaded joints, higher inverse slopes of the S-N curves as currently incorporated in EC3-1-9 prove to be more realistic. A dependence of fatigue strength on stress ratio and yield strength as well as fabrication properties have been shown. For double covered preloaded joints, a dependence of fatigue strength on yield strength is significant and it is therefore recommended to include a higher fatigue class for higher strengths into the detail catalogue. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper reassesses the fatigue detail categories of plain members and mechanically fastened joints based on published fatigue test data, establishing a complex database structure and analyzing the influences on the fatigue strength of the revised details. Design recommendations are given and higher fatigue classes are determined for different types of components.