Fatigue Life Prediction of Dissimilar Metal Laser Weld Joints

Fatigue failure of dissimilar metal weld structures occurs when it is subjected to fluctuating loads. The structures made of dissimilar metal weld joints were found in many industrial applications. This paper is aimed to estimate the fatigue life of 0.76 mm 304 L stainless steel and mild steel laser welds using energy balance equation and infrared camera. The laser welding experiments are conducted as per the L4 Taguchi’s method, and optimal process parameters were estimated using Taguchi approach. The weld joint prepared at optimal process parameters is considered for prediction of fatigue life. The fatigue tests are conducted by varying pretension load and keeping amplitude constant. The rise in temperature of the specimen is captured during the fatigue life test using infrared camera. The results obtained from this approach are in good agreement with the experimental results. This study helps to predict the fatigue life of the welds quickly based on rise in temperature information acquired during the initial stages of fatigue test. © 2020, The Institution of Engineers (India).