Fatigue of Steel Beams with Groove-Welded Flanges

The fatique strength of welded steel beams containing groove-welded flange splices is examined. Nine beams with an as-welded groove weld and nine beams with a flush-ground groove weld were tested. The results for the flush-ground specimens show that these attain the fatigue strength of a plain-welded beam (AASHTO category B). The beams with the groove weld left as-welded gave a slightly lower mean fatigue strength but had lives in excess of those which would be predicted by current specifications (AASHTO category C). Beams with this type of detail could be placed in category B, or a new class, between B and C could conservatively be established to accommodate them.